Hundreds of area Verizon strikers and their supporters gathered yesterday outside the telecom giant's Chesapeake Complex on Columbia Pike. Spirited speakers from CWA and IBEW rallied the red-shirted crowd in the midday sunshine, vowing to last "One day longer" than Verizon, where contract negotiations continued to stall earlier this week. U.S. Senate candidates Representatives Donna Edwards and Chris Van Hollen joined the rally, along with other elected officials and labor allies. CWA members came from Virginia, West Virginia, D.C., Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania. Edwards and Van Hollen called out Verizon's greed, and CWA District 2-13 Vice President Ed Mooney rallied the crowd to keep up the fight for a fair contract, "for our families, our customers and our communities." Another rally and picket will be held at noon today at 13th & F streets NW (see Calendar, above). More photos are posted on the Council's website. photo by Chris Garlock/Union City
4/22: Story updated with additional reporting from the CWA newsletter on Edwards, Van Hollen and Mooney
4/22: Story updated with additional reporting from the CWA newsletter on Edwards, Van Hollen and Mooney