More than 45,000 Verizon workers from Massachustts to Virginia went on strike Sunday. Aug. 7, protesting efforts to take away hard won gains that have helped telecommunications workers secure a spot in the middle class for nearly 50 years.
Pickets and rallies are being held up and down the East Coast challenging the company's unprecedented concessionary demands. Management demanded more than $1 billion in cutbacks - including pension freezes, increased health care payments and the elimination of job security for all employees - all of which remained on the table when the contract expired. This is at a time when Verizon is seeing record profits, pulling in $22.5 billion in profits since the 2008 recession.
Bargaining between the telecom and its two unions, the IBEW and the Communications Workers of America, began June 22.
Says IBEW International President Edwin D. Hill:
This is a company with a $100 billion dividend. The top five company executives were paid more than a quarter of a billion dollars over the past four years. If a company like this is not willing to provide wages and benefits to enable its workers to be part of the mainstream middle class in America, then all who work for a living have reason to fear.
The IBEW represents about 12,850 Verizon employees in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
Despite the strike, negotiations will continue throughout the week.
Says Hill:
We cannot stand by while one of the richest, most successful corporations in the world joins the race to decimate the middle class of this country. We remain ready to meet with Verizon to work out a fair agreement, but at this point, we had no choice.
Tell Verizon to stop its attack on middle-class jobs and return to the bargaining table. Check IBEW.org for future updates.