Verizon workers mark 9th month without a contract with “pregnant picket”

Commuters on Route 29 Tuesday morning wondering why pregnant women were picketing honked their support when they saw the banner reading “Verizon Has Labor Pains!” “It’s been nine months since we began bargaining,” said CWA 2108 president Marilyn Irwin (in purple CWA 2108 sweatshirt), “and we’re not much closer to a contract than we were on that first day.” While negotiations continue, the Verizon workers are frustrated and Irwin said that a strike “is a very real possibility.” “It’s just day to day and workers are angry that a company that’s making a billion and a half dollars a month in profits is trying to take away our job security and ruin our work lives.” Despite those frustrations and the chilly morning, the Local 2108 members were in good spirits as they patted bellies exaggeratedly distended with pillows and waved at passing commuters.
- report/photos by Chris Garlock