Majority of Verizon Business Techs in N.Y., N.E. Sign Up for Representation

A prominent group of lawmakers and religious and civic leaders from Massachusetts counted the cards and certified that a clear majority – 57 percent – of the more than 360 former MCI technicians at Verizon Business in New York and New England support union representation.

Meeting with several of the workers in Boston on March 4, the group, including Sen. John Kerry, Reps. Stephen Lynch and John Tierney, Lt. Gov. Tim Murray and other leaders urged Verizon to grant recognition and begin contract negotiations with the techs.

A video from the certification meeting is posted on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULxC44aFBnE.

The workers are seeking representation by CWA in New York and Connecticut and by IBEW in the rest of New England.  Local leaders and members from both unions are working jointly to "Tear Down the Wall" between the union and non-union business units at Verizon.  Verizon Business techs in other states also are organizing for representation.

John Elia, a tech from Boston who was on hand at the certification, stated:  "When we were MCI, we hoped for what could be but never got it.  When we became Verizon Business, we saw how it was and rejected it.  And now, we'll fight for what should be – and because of the support from our union co-workers I'm confident we can get a union and a voice."

"You wouldn't think it would be this complicated to get a voice in the workplace," Rep. Lynch told the workers.  Lynch, who last week joined a bipartisan majority of U.S. House members in passing the Employee Free Choice Act, calling for a system of cardcheck organizing rights, said:  "All the workers are asking for, because you are outgunned by the size of your employer, is to have the opportunity to have a voice in the workplace."

CWA President Larry Cohen stated:  "Verizon Business workers are overwhelmingly demonstrating that they want bargaining rights and a voice on the job just like union members at this company enjoy.  We urge Verizon to step up and give these workers the union recognition they are entitled to."

IBEW President Ed Hill said: "Artificial divisions within a company won't work.  Verizon should give the same opportunities to all its workers – now."

Other political leaders in the Northeast also have written to CEO Ivan Seidenberg urging the company to extend recognition to the workers, including Sens. Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer of New York and Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut and Rep. Ed Markey of Massachusetts.

CWA and IBEW members earlier joined the Verizon Business techs at mass rallies at Verizon headquarters in New York and Boston and more than 3,000 have signed a statement supporting their non-union co-workers' organizing drive.