By The PA. AFL-CIO
– After ten months trying to reach a fair contract, nearly 40,000 men and women who work at Verizon went on strike on April 13 to protect good jobs and to ensure quality service. These past six weeks have been difficult, but the strike will continue, and our Brothers and Sisters from the Communication Workers of America (CWA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) should know that the entire Labor Movement is standing alongside them in this fight; and it’s important for all of us to realize that these striking workers are standing up for all workers right now.
As most of you know, despite record profits, Verizon has continued their efforts to close US call centers and offshore jobs to the Philippines, Mexico, and elsewhere; all while refusing to follow through on commitments they’ve made to build out their broadband service. The company has been refusing to negotiate a first contract with Verizon Wireless retail workers who formed a union in 2014, and they are pushing to expand the outsourcing of work to low-wage non-union contractors. Two weeks into the strike, Verizon cancelled health coverage for the striking workers and their dependents – roughly 100,000 people were impacted.
Everyone – from business and from Labor – is watching this strike right now. The workers are standing strong, but they don’t need to stand alone.
Visit StandUpToVerizon.com now to find resources and information on how you and your union can help. Find local picket lines to join, learn more about the issues that forced this strike, and support the men and women who are out there fighting every day for the rights of all workers.
Finally, the Verizon Striking Families Solidarity Fund is accepting donations to help those who are being severely impacted by this strike. You can make a secure online donation BY Going to: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/contribute-to-the-cwa-ibew-solidarity-fund
Or, you can mail a contribution, payable and mailed to:
“Verizon Striking Families Solidarity Fund”
c/o Communications Workers of America
501 3rd Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20001-2797
Source – http://www.paaflcio.org/?p=6891
