Area CWA Locals Call for Mobilization Against Verizon

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Verizon is apparently taking its’ negotiating cues from Republicans in Congress, who a frustrated President Obama last weekend accused of being unable to “say Yes to anything.” After Verizon rejected union proposals on Friday, CWA modified its’ demands and returned Saturday only to have them rejected again. “We are ready to talk when they are ready to negotiate,” CWA said. The union – including area CWA locals -- is holding a virtual union hall meeting by phone on Verizon East bargaining and mobilization this Wednesday, where District Vice Presidents Chris Shelton and Ed Mooney, IBEW Local 827 President Bill Huber, and IBEW T-6 Chairman Myles Calvey will report “on what's happening at the table and how we're fighting back.” Despite earning $19.5 billion in profits and paying out $258 million to a handful of top executives in the last four years, “this company wants to gut the collective bargaining agreements we've negotiated over more than 60 years. We're not going to let that happen,” CWA vows. CWA members can participate in Wednesday’s 7p Union Hall meeting by phone: to sign up for the call, click here. The CWA and IBEW are also urging members and supporters to attend their massive rally at Verizon’s NYC headquarters this Saturday, July 30th. The current Verizon contract, which covers 45,000 Verizon workers in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions, expires August 6.
- Matt Fournier