Unions Rally As Verizon Deadline Nears
July 30, 2008
 With just days left before their Aug. 2 contract expiration with Verizon, 70,000 CWA and IBEW members from Virginia up through New England are coming together in solidarity as talks go down to the wire.
On July 26, 6,000 union members, retirees and their families rallied at Verizon’s headquarters in New York City. Workers held signs reading “Hands Off Our Benefits,” declaring their intent to protect health care insurance covering active and retired workers from cuts. Another rally is planned for Boston on July 31. Union leaders say that the grassroots activities are pushing their issues onto the bargaining table.
“The main reason management has been forced to deal with our issues is because the membership has shown them that we are united and determined to win yet another contract that takes us into the future,” says Myles Calvey, business manager of Boston Local 2222 and Second District IEC member.
Subcontracting has been a contentious issue in negotiations as the unions seek assurances that Verizon’s expanding market for broadband services will be filled by union technicians, not nonunion contractors.
Technicians and service representatives are wearing union T-shirts and stickers one day each week. Union meetings have been well-attended and informational union Web sites are seeing more traffic.
Union leaders are encouraging members to build support for a decent contract in their communities and to contact elected representatives at every level of government.
Calvey is urging IBEW members to contact community organizations, fraternal societies and religious groups. “These groups are the backbone of our society,” says Calvey. “They instinctively know that union jobs provide good pay and secure benefits. And that without these good jobs, our communities face a difficult future providing quality public services and security that all Americans want.”
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