NEW: Verizon Strike Nears Two Week Mark
Friday, August 19, 2011
For nearly two weeks, Verizon employees have stood hand in hand in defiance against Verizon in an effort to get the giant corporation to bargain in good faith. Currently, there are nearly 45,000 striking union members, who have not received a paycheck since the strike began.
Joined by their family, friends, and union supporters, the strikers’ reach is nationwide as approximately 350 separate picket lines continue to strike outside Verizon Wireless stores and corporate offices. Many of the picketers plan to hold out as long as it takes for Verizon to agree to their union bargaining terms. The origins for the strike began in June when the company put forth a series of concessionary proposals which employees found offensive and unreasonable.
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) has thrown its support behind the strikers, embracing a broad range of initiatives to support Verizon wireless employees. First among the initiatives is an online petition urging Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam “to stop union busting and negotiate fairly.” To date more than 150,000 signatures have been obtained. Some CWA members have joined the protestors in their mission, picketing Verizon Wireless stores daily.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe CWA also filed unfair labor practice charges against the company last week asking the National Labor Relations Board to immediately order Verizon to drop its refusal to bargain and negotiate in good faith as the law states.
CWA President, Larry Cohen condemned the company’s refusal to back off proposals that would incite huge pay cuts for its workers while it still paid millions to top executives. "This is totally unacceptable coming from a company that had plenty of money to pay $10 billion to shareholders this year, and $258 million to its top five executives over the last four years."
In fact, the CEO of Verizon makes nearly 1,000 times more than the average Verizon employee. David Englin, who represents Virginia’s 45th district in the general assembly commented on the vast gap stating, “Does anyone seriously believe he works one thousand times harder or is one thousand times more dedicated, professional, and conscientious than men and women working on the front lines?"
It appears that with each passing day, picketers are receiving increasing amounts of support. Recently, the governor of Maryland, along with 19 other members of Congress sent letters to Verizon urging them to negotiate in good faith. Yet, Verizon does not appear to be swayed in the least.
This week, the company threatened to take away health benefits for striking workers, a right protectable by Federal Law. CWA and picketing employees have made it clear to Verizon that they are prepared to return to work as soon as they begin to bargain seriously. But until then, the strike continues.