The
Communication Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers stated Aug. 20 that
“Members of CWA and IBEW at Verizon Communications will return to
work on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at which time the contract will be back in
force for an indefinite period.
“We have reached
agreement with Verizon on how bargaining will proceed and how it will
be restructured. The major issues remain to be discussed, but
overall, issues now are focused and narrowed.
“We
appreciate the unity of our members and the support of so many in the
greater community. Now we will focus on bargaining fairly and moving
forward.”
That
solidarity has been expressed at countless picketlines and support
actions across the United States.
CWA
and IBEW struck against Verizon because the company was demanding
extremely unfair concessions and refused to negotiate in good faith. With 45,000 workers in an area covering
Massachusetts to Virginia, this was the largest strike in the United
States in the past seven years. Verizon management could not keep up
with repairs or even take service orders. They could not install the
new services like FiOS. UPS delivery drivers have been honoring the
picket lines.
Bay
Area solidarity action
On
Wednesday, Aug. 17, about 100 union members and supporters picketed
and leafleted in front of the Verizon Wireless store on Market Street
in downtown San Francisco. Labor and community activists took turns
on the bullhorn speaking out, expressing solidarity and chanting in
support of the striking Verizon workers.
The
Pacific Media Guild, CWA Local 39521, called the action in San
Francisco to support the 45,000 workers on strike. Gloria La Riva, president of the Typographical Sector of the Media Guild, said that
her local had “adopted” the Verizon store at 768 Market Street near
4th Street and would picket there every Wednesday from 12 to 1 p.m.
for the duration of the strike.
IBEW
Local 1245 Business Rep. Landis Marttila said of Verizon, “They’re
taking advantage of the wider economic chaos and trying to use that
to wrest concessions from folks.” He pointed out that Verizon makes
huge profits, and demanded that the company bargain in good faith.
Marittila continued, “Keep the fight up, it’s a fight for all of
us.” IBEW
Local 6 was also represented on the picketline.
Others
from CWA expressing solidarity on the line included Gayle Crawley,
CWA Local 9410 president; John Duggan; Nino Maida, University
Professional & Technical Employees, CWA Local 9119; and Francis
Grinnon, CWA 9415 Retired Members Council vice president and Veterans
For Peace member.
Also speaking
were Lisa Hoyos, Director of Strategic Field Initiatives of the Blue
Green Alliance, which includes CWA; Tim Paulsen, executive director
of the San Francisco Labor Council (AFL-CIO); Ann Worth, Alameda
County Labor Council Delegate from Sign Display Union Local 510
IUPAT; Lillian Walker Shelton and Peter Olney, Jobs with Justice; and
Frank Lara, ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism).
Activists
turned out from several other unions, including UNITE HERE, ILWU,
OPEIU, International Association of Theatrical and Stage Employees
Local 16 (Stagehands), and the Teamsters.
Activists
make link to struggle for Social Security
Many
of the labor and community activists on the picket line walked to the
Verizon store directly from an earlier rally defending Social
Security two blocks down Market Street in front of Sen. Dianne
Feinstein’s office. Feinstein still has not taken a stand on Social
Security issues, including privatizing Social Security, raising the
retirement age, means-testing or taxing benefits. Social Security
contributes not one cent to the federal budget deficit and the
national debt. Yet both the Republicans and Democrats continue to put
Social Security on the table in the ongoing negotiations over the
contrived “debt crisis” drama.
An
injury to one is an injury to all. The capitalist class now threatens
to take away all the rights and benefits fought for by the workers
and oppressed over decades. With all the attacks coming down on labor
and the working class in general now we must fight in the streets to
defend the gains we have won in the past.
Later
the same day, workers picketed a Verizon store in Union City. On
Thursday, workers picketed a Verizon store in Berkeley on Shatuck and
Kitteridge.
Labor
can win!
