Thousands Kick Off Mobilization for '08 Verizon Talks

"One Year 'til Expiration" demonstrations by CWA and IBEW members on August 2 succeeded in getting the message out that workers won't stand still for attacks on their jobs, health care and other benefits when contract talks for Verizon East workers open next year.  Thousands of activists turned out for bargaining mobilization events, held from Boston to Virginia and West Virginia.  And support even came from the West Coast where 125 CWA members in Upland, Calif., braved 95-degree heat in a solidarity rally for their Verizon East brothers and sisters.

Among the most powerful displays of worker solidarity came in the form of quiet shows of strength in the workplace. At Verizon business offices in Maryland, 2,000 CWA members from eight locals, all wearing red, rose in unison at 12 noon. "It was a powerful sight," said CWA Local 2100 President Steve Holland. "Hundreds of workers at each location stood in solidarity for one minute," he said. At a dozen garages and other outside work sites in the state and in Washington, D.C., technicians and splicers arrived at their work locations en masse and wearing red.

At the day's largest rally, held outside Verizon's soon to close New England headquarters in Boston, nearly 1,000 members of CWA and IBEW urged management to respect workers' organizing rights at Verizon Business. "All we want is the same job protections and organizing rights that core Verizon employees have," Verizon Business tech John Elia told demonstrators.

Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) urged workers to keep up the pressure in a written message.  "Unions make the difference between an economy that's strong and fair, and an economy where working people are left behind. It's time for the company to respect [workers'] right to have a union," he said. The demonstrators, also concerned about preserving quality service and quality jobs in the region, used the event to launch a nationwide postcard campaign to oppose the Verizon's sale of its New England access lines to FairPoint Communications.

More than a 1,000 CWA members rallied in other locations. In Pennsylvania, hundreds rallied at Verizon business offices in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg. In Richmond, Va., 300 gathered at Verizon's business office supported by a cadre of 100 Stewards Army activists, who passed out leaflets to core Verizon employees working at the location. In Fredericksburg and St. Petersburg, Va., dozens of CWAers conducted informational picketing at Verizon garages and storerooms. In Morgantown, W. Va., 100 CWA members were joined by students and faculty at West Virginia University in a march to Verizon's central office.