Activists Urge DC to Act Against Verizon's Bad Service
Monday, May 19, 2008
(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
Workers and community activists woke up downtown DC Thursday with a lively
early morning rally to demand the DC Public Service Commission (PSC) hold
Verizon accountable for deteriorating services and refusal to invest in new
infrastructure in DC. The rally was held prior to a PSC hearing on a recent DC Office of
the People’s Counsel-Verizon agreement (Labor
Updates: Critics Say Verizon Agreement 'Hoodwinks' DC 3/14/08 UC) that CWA
Local 2336 President Jim Pappas called “ridiculous.” “One of the most
objectionable things about this agreement is that it implies Verizon’s poor
service is the fault of workers,” said Pappas, who testified at Thursday’s
hearing. “Verizon is slashing jobs, facilities, and resources and it is not
only happening in DC but all over the country.” Following the rally, activists
tried to enter the public building but were turned away by building management
and security who told them they could not enter the building wearing red and
without proper “business attire.” When asked to see written regulations
about attire for public citizens, management gave the group a copy of employee
dress codes. Eventually security and management were forced to relinquish and
activists were allowed to enter the public hearing where PSC officials
apologized for the incident.
-report/photo by Andy
Richards