Stewards Army Prepares for ’08 Talks

In demonstrations across the country this summer, more than 7,000 CWA members at Verizon have shown they won't stand still for management attacks on their jobs, health benefits and pensions — or against the organizing rights of their unrepresented co-workers at Verizon Business and elsewhere at the company.

Verizon East CWA and IBEW activists in New York and New Jersey kicked off the first of the year's pre-bargaining mobilizations in New York City, drawing more than 3,000 at a "We Won't Back Down" rally in late June. Hundreds of workers came by bus from New England.

In August, over 4,000 workers held "One Year 'til Expiration" rallies in a dozen cities stretching from Boston to Richmond, Va., to mark the one-year countdown mobilization to when the Verizon East contract expires on Aug. 2, 2008. The contract covers 70,000 workers. Negotiations, slated to begin in June 2008, are likely to be among the toughest negotiations ever with the company.

One of the most powerful displays of solidarity during the Aug. 2 series of demonstrations was the quiet show of strength CWA members organized at Verizon business offices across Maryland. An estimated 2,000 workers, all wearing red, rose in unison at 12 noon. "It sent a powerful message," said CWA Local 2100 President Steve Holland. "Up to hundreds at each location stood in solidarity for one minute," he said. The same day, at outside locations across the state and Washington, D.C., area, technicians and splicers arrived at work en masse and wearing red.

CWA's growing Stewards Army of active members and retirees helped stage a number of the mobilizations. In Philadelphia, active members and retirees supported by Stewards Army activists marched around Verizon's headquarters with security and top level managers looking on. "This is just a taste of what's to come," said Mike Davis, Unit 33 President for Local 13000 and District 13's Stewards Army Coordinator. "We've trained over 1,200 Stewards Army members and they will be key to helping our union mobilize and build power."

In Richmond, 100 Stewards Army activists joined with 300 CWAers, passing out leaflets to workers at Verizon's business office. Hundreds more attended demonstrations in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, Pa., St. Petersburg and Fredericksburg, Va., and Morgantown, W.Va.

Outside Verizon's soon to close New England headquarters in Boston, a crowd of nearly 1,000 CWA and IBEW activists urged management to "tear down the wall" at Verizon Business and respect workers' right to organize. A solid majority of the Verizon Business technicians in the Northeast have signed cards demanding union recognition, but management has refused to accept their decision.

At the New York rally, Verizon Business tech John Sweeney spoke passionately about the need to keep up the fight. "To any and all techs that may be on the fence, ask yourself a simply question," said Sweeney: "How do you expect to support your family, raise your kids and retire comfortably as living costs are rising a lot faster than your paychecks? Take control of your future," he said.