Verizon Strikers: "No Contract, No Peace!"
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)On Tuesday, red-clad
picketers marched outside the Verizon Wireless store on F Street, NW in
Washington, DC to urge Verizon to settle a fair contract that will give workers
more benefits instead of taking them away. Almost 45,000 workers are on strike
throughout the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The
workers on strike include field technicians, service representatives, operators
and other support personal. Many of these workers would lose their sick
days, paid vacation time, holidays, childcare and pensions if Verizon gets its
demands. Meanwhile Verizon’s has booked $6 billion in profits while paying top
executives $258 million over the past four years. The Communications Workers of
America (CWA) and Electrical Workers (IBEW) have been bargaining with Verizon
since June and struck on Sunday after the contract expired. Verizon had
cancelled bargaining sessions scheduled for Saturday night, Sunday morning and
Sunday afternoon. CWA and Verizon returned to the table Monday and bargained
late into the night. “Unions are contacting us from all over the country who
are offering to help us in our fight against Verizon,” says CWA District 2.
“Working men and women, union and non-union, realize this is a fight to save
the middle class.” While contract negotiations continue, striking Verizon
workers are walking picketlines throughout the Metro Washington area. (click
here to find one near you). The Metro Council’s Community Services Agency
is collecting contributions of non-perishable food, gift cards and funds
earmarked for Verizon strikers; email kmckirch@dclaborarchives.org.
Watch the Council website
for updates on the strike, picketlines and rallies.
- Naomi Eitches; photo by Tony Nguyen