As Verizon Negotiations Continue, CWA Mobilizes

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Contract negotiations between CWA and Verizon continued on Wednesday as the August 6 expiration date nears. Following a morning session analyzing Verizon’s latest proposal, the bargaining team from CWA Union Region 2 – which covers CWA locals in Maryland, DC and Virginia -- joined with about 100 CWA and IBEW members in a sea of red at the Verizon headquarters building in Philadelphia for a noontime rally to “let the management team know that ‘We Won’t Go Back!’” reported CWA. The afternoon session included a heated discussion over the union’s demand that Verizon commit to “bringing back all of our work from contractors” and grow bargaining unit jobs. Meanwhile, CWA locals -- including 2107, 2108, 2222, 2300 and 2336 in the metro area – are continuing with strike authorization votes and planning for a major rally – which drew 10,000 during the ‘08 negotiations -- at Verizon headquarters in New York City on Saturday, July 30^th.  “We need every member to make a commitment to be there… to show Verizon management that we are dead serious about our demands for jobs,” adds CWA.