Unions tell Verizon: ‘No business as usual’ without a fair contract

The Verizon workers who went on strike for two weeks are now back at work while their unions negotiate a fair contract for them. It was the strong strike of 45,000 members of the Communication Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers that pushed the corporation to the bargaining table.

Now back in the workplaces, these brave workers, who carried out the biggest walkout in four years — and did it during a recession — are buoyed by the public solidarity and help they received, as well as by their own unity and strength.

Community solidarity with the strikers was critical. That so many working people — organized and unorganized, in so many cities — supported the strike also pressured Verizon to negotiate. Where there were picket lines, drivers honked and passersby waved, joined the lines and brought food and water to the strikers.

Nonstriking unionized Verizon employees and allies in other unions picketed Verizon Wireless stores across the country, leafleting and doing outreach. Many potential customers took fliers and did not cross the picket lines. These actions affected Verizon’s sales and profits.

This bold strike is a boost to the labor movement, which is under attack in both the public and private sectors. These workers showed that they wouldn’t allow Verizon to decimate collective bargaining rights and destroy decent jobs.

Yet this struggle is far from over. The walkout was precipitated by Verizon demanding draconian cutbacks in health insurance, pensions, disability benefits, pay raises, and more — amounting to $20,000 in cuts per worker per year. The corporation is still insisting on major givebacks.

This profit-hungry corporation — which is making record profits and paid no taxes last year — wants to increase its earnings by further squeezing the workers. It is trying to gut job security too, so it can outsource more jobs to low-wage, nonunion plants.

The unions and the workers know that they are up against relentless corporate greed. They know that Verizon has a long history of not playing fair. In 2000, the company agreed not to interfere with organizing. However, the wireless division is not unionized due to corporate animosity.

The communication workers’ unions are urgently appealing for active public support of the workers. That support made a big difference during the strike and pushed Verizon to negotiate, and even to extend the prior contract. They urge that strong pressure be put on Verizon to stop its outrageous demands and sign a fair contract.

This is an opportunity for students, workers in all industries, community activists and all progressive forces to join together in a major struggle against corporate greed.

Help is needed in this fight. The unions are asking supporters to leaflet in front of Verizon Wireless stores, expanding an activity that is already going on in many cities. They ask that no one shop at these stores or purchase Verizon products or services until there’s a decent contract.

“Unity@Verizon,” a CWA website, gives information on how to help the workers, sign a solidarity statement, sign up to leaflet at a Verizon Wireless store and download leaflets.

Verizon needs to know that there will be “no business as usual” until there is a fair contract.