Workers Sway Lawmakers on Verizon Wireless-Big Cable Deal

CWAers rally outside of Rep. Steve Israel’s campaign kickoff and call out the congressman for not standing up for good hometown jobs.

Below: Strong feelings about Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) not joining his fellow lawmakers in expressing serious concerns about the Verizon Wireless – Big Cable deal.

Can you hear us now? Verizon workers spent weeks urging New York Democratic Reps. Steve Israel and Carolyn McCarthy to fight the proposed monopolistic deal between Verizon Wireless and Big Cable.

They didn't hear a peep.

But after two big rallies outside Israel's offices, the congressman is now pledging his support to save workers' jobs. And so is McCarthy.

"We've got to hold our friends accountable," said Mike Gendron, executive vice president of CWA Local 1108.

Earlier this month, Gendron had repeatedly reached out to both lawmakers, asking them to sign a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski citing concerns about the venture's impact on consumers in their districts and across the country. Under the proposed agreement, Verizon Wireless and major cable companies will jointly market each other's products — allowing them to offer a "quadruple play" of video, internet access, voice, and wireless service that would subsequently eliminate competition, kill 72,000 jobs, lead to higher prices and deepen the digital divide between cities and wealthy suburbs.

CWA didn't know where Israel or McCarthy stood until they refused to join 32 members of Congress in calling on the FCC to make certain that the final agreement follows the requirements of the 1996 Telecommunications Act and preserves competition.

So CWAers rallied outside of Israel's regional office last week, demanding that the congressman explain himself. When they didn't get a response, 200 activists staged another demonstration at Israel's campaign kickoff last Sunday, lining Old Country Road with red shirts and protest signs.

That finally got their attention. Gendron and other local labor leaders met with Israel that very Sunday afternoon to talk things over. Then McCarthy's office came calling.

"It's amazing what a little pushback can do for you," Gendron said.