In Virginia, CWA Stewards Army Takes on Verizon and Wins

CWA members in Virginia put the Stewards Army to work in a big way this spring, successfully blocking Verizon's attempt to end the state's oversight of the sale or transfer of telephone company assets.

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine vetoed a bill that would have eliminated the requirement that the State Corporation Commission approve the sale or transfer of any telephone company to ensure that the transaction is in the public interest. Despite a final push by Verizon, the House of Delegates refused to override the veto in early April. 

Verizon had hoped to get the measure quietly through both houses of the legislature, but locals statewide united to stop it, CWA Local 2201 President Chris Lane said. After the House approved the bill, CWAers turned their attention to the Senate, describing the measure as an attack on consumer rights that would leave customers with no way to address bad service or higher rates.

"We sent people daily to the state capitol to meet with their representatives, we sent out several fliers and we produced newspaper and radio ads to get our message across. After the Senate voted to eliminate state oversight, we stepped up our mobilization," he said, detailing phone banks, neighborhood petitions and phone calls to Kaine from CWA  District 2 Vice President Pete Catucci.

Radio spots pointed out that Verizon has already sold off phone lines in Northern New England and is planning to do the same in other rural areas.  Under the Verizon bill, the ad stated, "There would be no one to question the impact on jobs and service and the rates we pay."

Lane said the effort was an excellent match for the new Stewards Army which CWA locals are building in Virginia and across the country. "This issue really brought around members who hadn't been involved or engaged," he said. "It motivated them to take some ownership."