Thousands Show Verizon their Determination for a Fair Contract

 

Verizon management in New York saw nothing but red from their office windows on July 26 as more than 6,000 rallied for a fair contract.

Thousands of CWA and IBEW members at Verizon have participated in rallies and mobilization activities this week as negotiators work hard to try to reach a contract settlement by this weekend when the current contract, covering 65,000 workers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, expires at 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 3.

Union bargaining teams report that several major issues remain to be resolved including union jobs and bargaining rights, health care, retirement security and wages.

More than 6,000 members and retirees filled the street outside Verizon's Manhattan headquarters with an ocean of red last Saturday to send management a message of determination to win a fair contract protecting jobs, benefits and living standards.

CWA President Larry Cohen and Vice Presidents Chris Shelton, Ron Collins and Ed Mooney addressed the rally along with IBEW's bargaining chairs.  "IBEW and CWA are sticking together," Cohen declared.  "Whether we're from Maine or Virginia, it's all about solidarity!  Techs and service reps, inside workers and out, Verizon Business, wireless and wireline – it's all about solidarity!"

Thousands more are gathering for a mass rally in Boston today, as well as in front of Verizon's office in Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, locals throughout the region have conducted rallies, marches and informational picketing at scores of locations this week to show solid support for their bargaining teams.

Separately, the contract covering 64 Verizon Wireless workers in New York is set to expire tomorrow after midnight. At this time, major issues have not been resolved, bargainers reported.