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Mobilization Against Verizon Wireless Spreads
CWA members across the nation are turning out in droves to fight union busting by Verizon Wireless. It began on Nov. 29 with a rally organized by Local 2202 in Chesapeake, Va. On Dec. 1, it was Local 2201 in Richmond. On Dec. 2, several upstate New York locals staged a rally in Buffalo, N.Y., and Locals 1101 and 1105 organized the largest rally so far, in New York City.
Dozens of CWA and IBEW locals have pledged to participate in mobilization activities at Verizon facilities. Management does not know where or when they will be targeted.
Chris Shelton, assistant to District 1 Vice President Larry Mancino, joined more than 150 CWA members and Jobs with Justice activists in front of the Verizon store at the company's New York City headquarters. "We're going to demonstrate in front of Verizon Wireless until this company treats its workers right," Shelton said.
A number of Verizon workers have been fired or disciplined for trying to organize their co-workers and 1,100 lost their jobs in August when the company closed call centers in Orangeburg, N.Y., and Morristown, N.J.
Though CWA has filed numerous unfair labor practice charges, the NLRB has so far issued complaints in only two cases involving Thai Nyguen, a customer service representative in Bedminster, N.J., and Laverne Conley, a service rep in Cranberry Woods, Pa., near Pittsburg. In both cases, NLRB regional directors found that they were fired for engaging in protected activity. Both cases will go to trial before an administrative law judge. And both activists spoke in New York.
Several members of a group called "Billionaires for Bush" arrived at the New York rally in limousines. They strutted in fur coats and tuxedos and smoked cigars as they led a chant, "Ivan, Ivan, he's our man. If he can't outsource you, nobody can."
CWA generated dozens of cell phone calls to Verizon chief Ivan Seidenberg. All said, "Stop busting the union at Verizon Wireless." Ed Sabol, organizing director and administrative assistant to CWA Executive Vice President Larry Cohen, said he connected to Seidenberg's voice mail and was promised a call back. Sabol also said a Verizon manager posed as a New York Post reporter to take notes on the rally.
In the Buffalo area, about 30 members and retirees turned out under dreary skies, braving high winds and rain for a rally in front of the Verizon Wireless flagship store in Cheektowaga. Representatives from Locals 1115, 1117,1122, 1168, and IBEW Local 2213 showed up at 11:30 a.m. to hand out fliers and to talk to salespeople and the public about Wireless' anti-union tactics.
About four dozen people turned away and never entered the store because of the informational picketing. A UPS driver refused to cross the picket line to deliver. Police were called, but told the picketers they were doing nothing wrong.
"Managers came out and told customers we would be gone in an hour," said Local 1122 Executive Vice President John Carosa. "They had no idea." Picketers remained until 4:30 p.m.
The upstate New York group plans to keep rolling out mobilization events on a regular basis, said Carosa, but declined to reveal dates or times. Numerous others including locals in the Midwest and Southwest, have events planned for the near future but also chose to protect the element of surprise.
Dozens of CWA and IBEW locals have pledged to participate in mobilization activities at Verizon facilities. Management does not know where or when they will be targeted.
Chris Shelton, assistant to District 1 Vice President Larry Mancino, joined more than 150 CWA members and Jobs with Justice activists in front of the Verizon store at the company's New York City headquarters. "We're going to demonstrate in front of Verizon Wireless until this company treats its workers right," Shelton said.
A number of Verizon workers have been fired or disciplined for trying to organize their co-workers and 1,100 lost their jobs in August when the company closed call centers in Orangeburg, N.Y., and Morristown, N.J.
Though CWA has filed numerous unfair labor practice charges, the NLRB has so far issued complaints in only two cases involving Thai Nyguen, a customer service representative in Bedminster, N.J., and Laverne Conley, a service rep in Cranberry Woods, Pa., near Pittsburg. In both cases, NLRB regional directors found that they were fired for engaging in protected activity. Both cases will go to trial before an administrative law judge. And both activists spoke in New York.
Several members of a group called "Billionaires for Bush" arrived at the New York rally in limousines. They strutted in fur coats and tuxedos and smoked cigars as they led a chant, "Ivan, Ivan, he's our man. If he can't outsource you, nobody can."
CWA generated dozens of cell phone calls to Verizon chief Ivan Seidenberg. All said, "Stop busting the union at Verizon Wireless." Ed Sabol, organizing director and administrative assistant to CWA Executive Vice President Larry Cohen, said he connected to Seidenberg's voice mail and was promised a call back. Sabol also said a Verizon manager posed as a New York Post reporter to take notes on the rally.
In the Buffalo area, about 30 members and retirees turned out under dreary skies, braving high winds and rain for a rally in front of the Verizon Wireless flagship store in Cheektowaga. Representatives from Locals 1115, 1117,1122, 1168, and IBEW Local 2213 showed up at 11:30 a.m. to hand out fliers and to talk to salespeople and the public about Wireless' anti-union tactics.
About four dozen people turned away and never entered the store because of the informational picketing. A UPS driver refused to cross the picket line to deliver. Police were called, but told the picketers they were doing nothing wrong.
"Managers came out and told customers we would be gone in an hour," said Local 1122 Executive Vice President John Carosa. "They had no idea." Picketers remained until 4:30 p.m.
The upstate New York group plans to keep rolling out mobilization events on a regular basis, said Carosa, but declined to reveal dates or times. Numerous others including locals in the Midwest and Southwest, have events planned for the near future but also chose to protect the element of surprise.