More than 36000 Verizon workers across the eastern United States,including 15000 in unusual York State, may go on strike Wednesday morning unless they reach a last-minute deal with their employer. The workers have been without a contract for close to ten months, and labor negotiations have reportedly stalled.
Bob Master of the Communications Workers of America said the union has big plans to steal the dispute public.“We're going to kick off the strike with massive picket lines all over the region starting 6 am tomorrow. We have a rally planned for downtown Brooklyn a lot of elected officials coming out in support,” Master said, adding that workers will also target Verizon Wireless storefronts.
Verizon workers say they're fighting for decent pay and benefits.
The company says it has already trained thousands of replacement workers to ensure service is not disrupted.
Verizon claims the average worker's yearly pay and benefits package is worth more than $130, and 0000."Verizon approached these negotiations with a goal of preserving gracious jobs while also making critical changes needed to legacy contracts," Verizon said in a statement posted online. With many customers quitting land-line service, Verizon has cut jobs maintaining copper-wire phone service. Master said Verizon's labor force in unusual York has shrunk by approximately 40 percent over the past decade.
The dispute is even surfacing as an issue in unusual York’s primary election, or which takes station on April 19th. On Monday night in Buffalo,Vermont Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders told a rally that Verizon’s negotiation is typical of “the greed of corporate America.”The Communications Workers of America has endorsed Sanders for President.
Source: wnyc.org