Hundreds Of Verizon Workers May Go On Strike

Hundreds Of Verizon Workers May Go On Strike

Hundreds of Verizon employees in Rhode Island will join about 35,000 workers nationwide in a labor strike if a fair contract cannot be reached by next Sunday, members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) confirmed this week.

The group overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike if an agreement is not reached and CWA members are joining with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) to mobilize at worksites and public events across the country.

In the Ocean State, an estimated 900 Verizon workers may be on strike come next week, according to CWA spokesman Rand Wilson. Wilson said there were more than 1,100 Verizon employees in Rhode Island just three years ago.

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Verizon Stripping Benefits

The major issue, according to CWA, is Verizon management's attempt to strip many of the benefits that the union workforce has successfully negotiated over the years including healthcare and pensions. The union also reports that they will defend against attempts to alter so-called "movement of work" provisions that protect jobs in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and limit the amount of work that can be sent to other parts of the country or even offshore.

Ed Fitzpatrick, who heads up the IBEW Local 2222, said union workers have given up enough over the years.

"Our members have sacrificed to a great extent over the years for many of these benefits. We paid a great price to get here, and we will pay an even greater price to stay," Fitzpatrick said.

We Owe It To The Labor Movement

In a conference call Wednesday night, IBEW Local 2222 Business Manager and T6 Chair Myles Calvey said Verizon is trying to cut back on pensions, healthcare and holidays and that it’s time for workers to say “enough is enough.”

"This is a fight that we have to take on with Verizon,” Calvey said. “This company wants to take back 40 years of gains for working families. Pension, health care, holidays…everything. We owe it to earlier generations of telephone workers who fought so hard to win what we enjoy today. We have to pay them back. We owe it to our families. We owe it to the labor movement. “

Calvey called the Labor movement the last line of defense for workers and their families.

"All across the country people are hoping that someone will draw that line in the sand – like in Wisconsin -- and take on corporate greed,” he said. “To say that enough is enough; we won't go back! I'm asking everyone to stay committed; to our commitment to the labor movement -- which is the last line of defense for workers and their families. It's what keeps our country great, and we must fight for it.”

Verizon Earned $19.5 Billion In Profits Over Last Four Years

Verizon has been one of the most profitable businesses in the country in recent years, with its top five executives earning more than $258 million over the last four years. The company reports making $19.5 billion in profits over that time span.

But now the company is demanding major concessions across the board in workers’ health care, benefits, pensions and more, according to the CWA. Instead of creating and keeping good jobs in local communities, Verizon has been contracting out work out of the region and offshoring jobs to Mexico, the Philippines and other countries. Verizon also got a $1.3 billion federal tax rebate from the government despite its huge profits.

Calvey also said Verizon should show respect for civil rights.

"Verizon wants us to give up the Veterans and Martin Luther King holidays. They say nobody celebrates those holidays any more. What an incredible insult. Show respect for our veterans. Show respect for civil rights. And for the next ten days give 1,000 percent to our union cause."

91 Percent Support Strike

With over 91 percent of workers supporting the strike authorization, CWA District 2-13 Vice President Ed Mooney said it is clear Verizon employees nationwide are committed to fighting back.

“CWA members are determined to fight back against Verizon’s corporate greed and bargain a fair contract, one that reflects workers’ contributions to Verizon’s success,” he said.

 

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