The Verizon Grinch Makes an Appearance this Holiday Season

As shoppers jammed stores on Black Friday, the big shopping day after Thanksgiving, CWA members, friends and families, including a CWA supporter dressed as the Grinch – leafleted and caroled outside Verizon Wireless stores throughout Verizon territory. CWA members and supporters delivered this message: Your policies hurt working families but you will not break our spirit or solidarity.

Members of CWA Local 1103 turn out to protest Verizon's greed with some special caroling on Black Friday. Appearing as the Grinch, left, was the son of Local 1103 Secretary-Treasurer Joe Mayhew.

Verizon continues to demand concessions and givebacks in bargaining from 39,000 CWA and IBEW members, despite earning profits of more than $1 billion a month. It's refusing to bargain fairly over raises, better benefits and better working conditions for newly-organized Verizon Wireless workers, and continues to harass and intimidate wireless workers who want a union voice.

CWA Local 2336 members, with DC Jobs with Justice activists, rally on Black Friday for fairness at Verizon.

In New York, the Grinch joined CWA Local 1103 members at the Hartsdale and Mohegan, NY, Verizon Wireless stores. CWAers from a number of District 1 Locals, including 1101, 1102, 1115 and 1120, held "Black Friday" actions to help spread the word that Verizon needs to bargain fairly with workers.

In District 2-13, active and retired members of CWA Locals 13500 and 13000 held "Black Friday" protests at corporate owned Verizon wireless stores in Philadelphia, Wyomissing, Springfield, Concordville, Wilkes-Barre, Limerick and other locations. CWAers in Pittsburgh rallied outside the call center.

Members of Local 13101 caroled outside stores in Dover and Wilmington, Del., while Locals 2201 and 2204 hit Richmond and Roanoke, Va. In Maryland, CWA Locals 2101 in Baltimore and 2100 in Chase held actions, and DC CWAers, members of Local 2336, were joined by activists from DC Jobs with Justice.