"Nothing could keep these members from getting the message out"

Neither rain, nor wind, nor the gloom of a dreary November day could dampen spirits at the Buffalo rally.

The Buffalo rally was a great success. It was a dreary day here, high winds, and a little rain. 30 members and retirees from CWA 1115, 1117, 1122, 1168, and IBEW 2213 rallied at Verizon Wireless' flagship store on Walden Avenue in Cheektowaga.

"From 11:30 a.m. 'til 4 p.m. we were handing out flyers, tying up salespeople, and talking to the public about Verizon's anti-union tactics. Many would not go in. Some people went in and told the salespeople they wouldn't buy from them because they weren't union and were going to Cingular. About 4 dozen people turned away and never entered the store due to lines. UPS wouldn't deliver until the line was down, even after seeing it was an info picket! We had pizza on the line, and nothing could keep these members from getting the message out.

"We had our visits from the police who told them we weren't doing anything illegal! I will keep everyone posted and will be on the conference call from the line next week!!!!! Good luck to all, have fun."

Meanwhile, in Boston . . .

Santa and one of his reindeer were spotted on the picket line outside Verizon Wireless' Downtown Crossing store. Joining members from CWA Local 1400 and IBEW Local 2222, they also went inside to serenade employees with holiday carols, including "Rudolph the Union Reindeer" (lyrics at right).

Interviewed in the Boston Herald, Local 1400 president Don Trementozzi, promised that there would be more: "We're going to intensify our efforts," Trementozzi said.

. . . in New Haven, CT . . .

LaVerne Conley, fired from VZW's Cranberry Woods, PA, call center for organizing, joined the New Haven picket line.

"We had a GREAT action in North Haven. About 50 people from Local 1298 in Connecticut and the AFL-CIO Organizing Institute attended our action. Fired Verizon Wireless worker LaVerne Conley also spoke to attendees of the Organizing Institute to give a firsthand account of the experience of organizing at her work place and Verizon Wireless' unfair tactics to prevent workers from forming a union."

Hear LaVerne tell her story courtesy of the Workers Independent News Service (scroll down to find LaVerne on 12/2/04).

. . . and in Manhattan . . .

Billionaires for Bush stood up for their dear friend Ivan.

At the Verizon Wireless store at Verizon's headquarters building, CWA Locals 1101 and 1105 were joined by Billionaires for Bush. Sipping champagne and waving from their limousine, the Billionaires cheered for their good friend Ivan with chants like, "We love Ivan, yes we do.  He will outsource all of you!"

(Billionaires for Bush is a grassroots network of corporate lobbyists, decadent heiresses, Halliburton CEOs, and other winners under George W. Bush's economic policies.)

LaVerne Conley and Thai Nyguen, another worker fired by Verizon Wireless for organizing, also joined the rally.

Demonstrations also took place in Chesapeake, Richmond, Virginia Beach, and Newport News, VA.

Visit us on the web for more pictures, as well as video clips of the Billionaires: www.cwa-union.org/verizon/photos

And there are more to come: 

Wed., Dec. 8, 10-11:30 a.m. (& Dec. 15, 22) Richmond, VA 7320 Staples Mill Rd. CWA Local 2201	Mon., Dec. 13, 11:35 a.m.-12:25 Virginia Beach, VA 729 First Colonial Rd. CWA Local 2202
Thurs., Dec. 9, 11 a.m.-noon (& Dec. 16, 23) Newport News, VA 12227 Jefferson Ave. CWA Local 2205	Mon., Dec. 20, 11:35 a.m.-12:25 Suffolk, VA 1459 North Main St. CWA Local 2202
Sat., Dec. 11, Noon-1 p.m. Boston, MA 745 Boylston St. CWA Local 1400 & IBEW Local 2222, joined by a recently fired VZW worker, Jobs with Justice, Amnesty Int'l, and others from the "Workers' Rights Are Human Rights" conference	These locals are also planning rallies. Contact your local for locations & times: 2336 4050, 4202, 4371, 4671, 4773 6171, 6222, 6310 13000, 13500

California bargaining opened Dec. 6. For updates: www.cwa-union.org/district9/Verizon.htm

North-Central bargaining opens Dec. 8. For updates: district4.cwa-union.org

Seasonal Songs for the Picket Line

Rudolph the Union Reindeer
Lyrics: Julie McCall

Rudolph the Union reindeer
Pulled the sleigh for old St. Nick
He signed a Union contract
He knew North Pole politics

All of the other reindeer
Worked long hours around the clock
They paid no heed to Rudolph
They worked in non-union shops

Then one year on Christmas Eve
They all came to say,
"We will do what you advise
Rudolph, help us organize!"

Then how the reindeer loved him
As they lined up with their sleigh
Now when they work on Christmas
They're all getting premium pay!

Share the Dough!
Tune: Let It Snow
Lyrics: Julie McCall

While the minimum wage is frightful
For the wealthy life's delightful
Tell those millionaire CEO's
Share the dough, share the dough, share the dough!

The battle around us rages
As we fight for living wages
And we want to get what we're owed
Share the dough, share the dough, share the dough!

We leave families home at night
Working two jobs is the norm
And we know that it's just not right
This system needs some reform

The economy's globalizing
In the streets we're organizing
And we're making our movement grow
Share the dough, share the dough, share the dough!

For more great union songs, chants, and resources, visit the Labor Heritage Foundation at www.laborheritage.org

Buy Union – And $ave
Support the Wireless Company that Supports Workers’ Rights!

CWA members and retirees and their families get a 15% discount off Cingular service! 

Visit CWA's website for more information: www.cwa-union.org/cingular/discount.asp or call 877-751-7257.

Visit Unity@Verizon on the web for more:

• Mobilization photos
• Bargaining updates
• Contract expiration list
• Past Unity@Verizon e-mail updates

If you'd rather receive only periodic updates when we need you to take action or there's significant news, please reply to this message and tell us "periodic."

(What's happening in your area?
Send information and photos to unityatverizon@cwa-union.org and we'll publish them here.)

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