Frustrated workers "hang-up" on telecommunications corporate giant
HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 45,000 workers from New England to Virginia went on strike just after midnight at Verizon Communications. The workers are represented by the CWA (Communications Workers of America) and the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers).
Since bargaining began last month on July 22, Verizon has refused to move from a long list of concession demands. As the contract expired, nearly 100 concessionary proposals remained on the table.
"Verizon's demands would take much of its unionized workforce back to 1960s levels of wages, benefits and working conditions," noted Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Richard Bloomingdale. "They insist on these Draconian demands despite Verizon's 2011 annualized revenues of $108 billion and net corporate profits of $6 billion," Mr. Bloomingdale added.
Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Frank Snyder explained that this will not be a traditional strike. "We need to shine a light on Verizon's obscene corporate greed into all of our communities. If you think they're not setting the stage for stripping your wages, benefits, pensions, and collective bargaining, you're wrong. Today its Verizon, tomorrow in may be you!" Mr. Snyder said.
"Verizon workers, Pennsylvania's working families want you to know your fight is ours," added Mr. Bloomingdale as he encouraged all workers throughout the Commonwealth to attend an action or strike rally at a location near them in a statewide communication distributed widely Sunday.
Strike rallies are planned for Monday, August 8th at 8 a.m. in Pittsburgh outside the Verizon offices at 416 7th Avenue, in Harrisburg at Strawberry Square and in Philadelphia at 9th and Race Street. Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Frank Snyder will be speaking at the rally in Pittsburgh tomorrow and he is available today and tomorrow for interviews with news reporters by calling his cell phone: 717-350-8624
Additional information can be found at:
www.cwa-union.org/verizon
www.ibew.org; www.ibew2222.org; www.ibew827.com
Marty Marks
Pennsylvania Media Outreach
National AFL-CIO
412.352.0317
James Deegan
Pennsylvania AFL-CIO
717-231-2867
/PR Newswire -- Aug. 7, 2011/
SOURCE Pennsylvania AFL-CIO
