Verizon Workers End Walkout as Company Agrees to Bargain Fairly

Two-Week Strike, Public Pressure Force Verizon Back to Restructured Talks

Read more comments and show your support for CWA members at Verizon on their Facebook page.

Verizon workers returned to work this week stronger than ever in their fight for a fair contract, fortified by the bravery they showed in striking during a recession and by the public's strong embrace of their courage and solidarity.

The 35,000 striking CWA members and 10,000 IBEW members returned to work Aug. 23, many of them wearing red and marching into their worksites together.

That kind of solidarity during their two-week walkout forced Verizon to reset its bargaining position, extend the contract and agree to negotiate in good faith. Public support also put tremendous pressure on Verizon, as passersby waved and honked in solidarity with workers, joined them on the picket line and delivered ample supplies of food and water to picket sites.

CWA and IBEW reached agreement with Verizon last Saturday, Aug. 20. Workers returned to work Tuesday under the terms of their existing contract. The strike was the largest U.S. walkout since 73,000 autoworkers struck GM in 2007.

Striking Verizon workers line up in preparation for a candlelight vigil last week outside the Mendham, N.J., home of CEO Lowell McAdams.

Below: Young picketers support their parents, members of Local 2222..

CWA and IBEW members made it clear that they wouldn't stand for any attempt by one of the nation's most profitable companies to destroy collective bargaining, and with it good-paying, middle-class jobs.

Verizon tried to downplay the impact of the walkout on its business, but customers and workers reported big backlogs and delays in FiOS installations and repairs. Verizon has run full-page apologies to customers in the Washington Post and other newspapers serving the Verizon East region.

Pickets at Verizon Wireless stores coast to coast also affected the company's bottom line, as strikers and allies on picket lines reported that many would-be customers took flyers and decided not to go inside.

At a Verizon Wireless store on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, members of CWA Locals 9003, 9505, 9586 and 9588 picket during the Verizon strike with allies from many other unions.

Below: Members of Germany's ver.di union show their support for the ongoing fight for a fair contract at Verizon..

The company has frequently downplayed the importance of its wire line business to justify making deep cuts in workers' pay and benefits, but the argument fell apart following the East Coast's major earthquake this week, when wireless telephone service was virtually shutdown. Landlines were largely unaffected, or services were back on line quickly.

Going back to work won't curtail workers' mobilization efforts as they continue to fight for a fair contract and highlight Verizon's unreasonable demands. Leafleting continues in front of Verizon Wireless stores across the country. Visit the Unity at Verizon website to join workers in their fight and click here to find them on Facebook.

Leading negotiations are CWA District 1 Vice President Chris Shelton and CWA District 2-13 Vice President Ed Mooney.

The Hill newspaper in Washington, D.C., published an op-ed column by CWA President Larry Cohen on Thursday, "Verizon Strike Has Bigger Lessons for U.S. Economy." Click here to read it.