Standing Up to Verizon's War on Unions
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- Published on Thursday, 21 April 2016 23:00
- Written by editor
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A Socialist Project e-bulletin .... No. 1250 .... April 22, 2016
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Standing Up to Verizon's War on Unions
Unions representing nearly 40,000 Verizon workers have announced plans to hit the picket lines on April 13, in what would be one of the largest strikes in the U.S. in recent years. The workers, members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), are fighting aggressive attacks on their compensation, job security and more -- carried out by a corporation that is raking in the profits, but won't be satisfied until it breaks the power of their unions.
Danny Katch talked to a CWA shop steward from New York City about what's at stake in this battle and why Verizon workers deserve solidarity. This interview firsr appeared on the Socialist Worker website.
Danny... Katch (DK): What are the main issues in this contract fight?
CWA: There are a lot of issues that we've been bargaining concessions over the past several contracts. Verizon is attacking our medical, our pensions, disability, overtime -- all of our compensation is under attack.
What's different about this contract is that they're attempting to destroy Article 8, which protects our right to show up to work in the same place, every day, a reasonable distance from where we live. They're pushing to change transfer rights to favor the company to the point that they will be able to transfer us anywhere in the company footprint for up two months at a time, during which we'd live in hotels away from our families and communities.
There's also been an erosion of call center work and an increase in contracting out, and this contract would allow for closing more call centers and transferring members up to 80 miles from their current job sites, as well as opening the door to increased international outsourcing.
