VIS Strike: Everyone's Fight!

Tell Verizon: When You Take On One of Us, You Take on All of Us

Over 300 CWA members in New York are on strike against Verizon Information Services. These Yellow Pages sales reps walked out and began an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike on October 31 because Verizon has refused to bargain in good faith.

This is just another attempt by Verizon to isolate and pick up off a group of union members.

  • Even winning representation and their first union contract was a long struggle for VIS workers. Despite signing a neutrality agreement, Verizon ran a campaign of fear and intimidation against the workers.  The members are now fighting for a second contract and the Company has bargained in bad faith, doing all they can to bust the union.
Breaking News: Verizon has just announced that management employees will no longer accrue guaranteed pension benefits or receive retiree health insurance. (Click here for details.)

This is another attack on union members at VIS (except in New England), who are part of the management pension plan. (Current retirees and other union VZ employees are not affected.)

This attack on unionism and collective bargaining at Yellow Pages is a shot across the bow of all Verizon workers. We must stand together and mobilize to pressure Verizon to end its unfair labor practices and bad faith bargaining, and negotiate a fair contract.

The strikers need YOUR help!

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Settle the strike! Bargain in good faith!

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

The 300 striking CWA members at VIS do not stand alone. As long as you refuse to bargain in good faith with these workers, 70,000 CWA and IBEW members at Verizon will stand with them.

We will alert VIS customers in New York that the company may attempt to send scabs to their offices or have scabs send renewal contracts.

We will join their picket lines and mobilize for as long as it takes.

In short, we will provide whatever support they need until Verizon returns to the bargaining table and settles this dispute.

In addition, we are outraged at Verizon's despicable decision to cut off the defined benefit pension plan and retiree health care for management employees -- which also affects these VIS workers.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
December 08, 2005


Background Information

Tell Verizon: When You Take On One of Us, You Take on All of Us

Over 300 CWA members in New York are on strike against Verizon Information Services. These Yellow Pages sales reps walked out and began an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike on October 31 because Verizon has refused to bargain in good faith.

This is just another attempt by Verizon to isolate and pick up off a group of union members.

  • In one example from 2003, the company tried to force concessions on 150 members of CWA Local 3673 in rural N. Carolina. Instead, members struck and mobilized their community behind them. The entire Verizon-East unit, which was then in bargaining, added its support, forcing the company to settle without concessions.  (The N. Carolina strikers in turn offered to stay out until the VZ-East contract was settled.)     

  • In round after round of bargaining we have risen up to defend the "New York 50" unit of Verizon Wireless workers from the company's attacks.  In 2003, the company refused to grant seniority rights at VZW until Verizon members across the country demonstrated at Wireless stores. Less than a week later, the company settled the contract -- with seniority rights.

 

  • Even winning representation and their first union contract was a long struggle for VIS workers. Despite signing a neutrality agreement, Verizon ran a campaign of fear and intimidation against the workers.  The members are now fighting for a second contract and the Company has bargained in bad faith, doing all they can to bust the union.

Breaking News: Verizon has just announced that management employees will no longer accrue guaranteed pension benefits or receive retiree health insurance. (Click here for details.)

This is another attack on union members at VIS (except in New England), who are part of the management pension plan. (Current retirees and other union VZ employees are not affected.)
This attack on unionism and collective bargaining at Yellow Pages is a shot across the bow of all Verizon workers. We must stand together and mobilize to pressure Verizon to end its unfair labor practices and bad faith bargaining, and negotiate a fair contract.

The strikers need YOUR help!