Union Pickets Outside Verizon Wireless Stores

Members of the Communications Workers of America trades union picketed outside Verizon Wireless stores yesterday to support wireless workers as they bargain for a new contract. In nearly 50 locations, from New England to Virginia, workers rallied and leafleted, calling on Verizon Wireless management to renegotiate their contracts. The contract covering 51 Verizon Wireless workers in New York expired Aug. 1; contract talks are continuing with the involvement of a federal mediator.

At a lunchtime rally in Washington, CWA President Morton Bahr promised the crowd of about 100 that CWA would keep up the fight for fairness as long as it takes to reach a just settlement for the 51 Verizon Wireless workers.

"For 14 years, Verizon Wireless has tried to bust this union, but we're stronger than ever. We are in this fight until Verizon Wireless stops treating union workers like second class citizens," Bahr told the crowd. Verizon Wireless is even trying to deny workers something as basic as seniority rights, so it can use favoritism, not fairness, when it comes to layoffs and recalls, he added.

"Verizon's arrogance has elevated the issue to the presidential campaign," Bahr said, noting that several candidates have expressed their support for workers and have urged Verizon to settle a fair agreement.

While actions went on in Washington and other communities, Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean joined a rally outside a Verizon Wireless store in Burlington. Dean said he was supporting workers' efforts to secure a fair contract. "What you are standing up for is what my campaign is all about," he said."

Posted to the site on 29th August 2003