Thousands in NYC Protest Verizon Anti-Union Policies

As this issue went to press, thousands of CWA and IBEW members were descending upon Verizon's New York City headquarters to stage a "We Won't Back Down" rally tonight, June 28, to protest the company's anti-worker and anti-customer policies. Some 2,000 workers were expected at the rally, with many bussing in from New England and Mid-Atlantic States.

The CWA and IBEW union members, supported by dozens of leaders from other unions and elected officials from New York City and New York State, organized the rally to spotlight Verizon's ongoing union-busting against Verizon Business employees and the sale of the company's northern New England access lines to the tiny and ill-equipped Fairpoint Communications.  The rally is also the beginning of mobilization in preparation for 2008 contract negotiations at Verizon.

The rally, staged outside the company's Manhattan offices at 140 West Street, was scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. with introductory remarks by District 1 Vice President Chris Shelton. CWA and IBEW leaders representing workers in regions affected by the Verizon-Fairpoint deal – CWA Local 1301 President George Alcott, Braintree, Mass., Local 1400 President Cheryl Ahern, Portsmouth, N.H., and IBEW New England T-6 Council President Miles Calvey -- were set to address the marchers. Support also came from the presidents of the RWDSU, UFT, state AFL-CIO, and Central Labor Council as well as from numerous elected state and city office holders.