DC Community Groups Press for Verizon Contract

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Downtown Verizon store managers were reminded Friday of the ongoing struggle for a fair contract for Verizon workers when community members tried to deliver an open letter to two local stores. “We are here on behalf of customers and community members to communicate our support for the 45,000 workers who are currently bargaining for a fair contract,” Empower DC's Sequnely Gray told the floor manager of the Verizon store at 18th and L NW. While the 18th Street store manager refused the letter, the manager at the F Street Verizon accepted it later that evening from DC Jobs with Justice’s Rosa Lozano and Lillian Shelton, who took another group of community members, Lupita Aguila Arteaga from STITCH, Nico Uda-gama of School of the Americas Watch, Arturo Griffiths from DC JwJ and members of the Day Laborers Union of DC. “Verizon has an ethical obligation to provide fair compensation for its workers rather than engaging in a race to the bottom” read the letter, which was signed by dozens of people from the local faith, academic, and non-profit communities. “It is time for Verizon to do the right thing and negotiate a fair contract.” Friday’s action follows DC JwJ’s recent playful “Alms for the Rich: Verizon CEO's Take to the Street” action. For info on how to get involved in the DC JwJ campaign for Verizon workers, contact Shelton at lillian@dcjwj.org. - photo of Gray trying to give the letter to a Verizon manager by Julia Kann