Takin' It to the Streets
(and Sidewalks)
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Members of CWA L. 2275 greet early morning
commuters in Stafford, VA. |
Verizon workers are keeping up a steady pace of mobilization
actions. Throughout the fall, union members have taken to
the streets and sidewalks in hundreds of locations across
the country.
With leaflets and informational pickets at business
offices, garages, VZ corporate offices, and public places like
bus stations, members are educating co-workers and the public
about Verizon's shameful attempts to wall off huge sections of
the company.
Some highlights:
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CWA L. 9586 made a strong showing
in Norwalk and
Downey, CA. | In addition to
informational picketing at work locations, members of
IBEW L. 827 picketed outside
Verizon's headquarters in Basking Ridge, NJ. They
report that they had a lot of fun and got plenty of attention
from managers coming in to work. Local 827 returned on Nov.
16, accompanied by a giant inflatable rat.
CWA Locals 13000, 13500, 13100, and
13101 visited 29 branchs of Bank of America,
a Verizon Business customer. They distributed a leaflet to let
customers know that Verizon is hurting the community by eroding
union jobs. In areas with no Bank of America branches, they
distributed leaflets at worksites.
CWA L. 2108 members visited another dozen
Bank of America locations in the Washington, D.C., suburbs.
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Members of CWA L. 2108 in the Gaither Rd.
garage in Maryland. L. 2108 had info pickets at another 12
locations. |
IBEW L. 1637's
active mobilization committee distributed 800
leaflets at the Erie, PA, call center and is ready for
more.
IBEW L. 2213 members in upstate NY have
one regret about their mobilization: They wish they were
closer to Basking Ridge so they could have gone to VZ
headquarters!
In New England, IBEW L. 2222 and CWA
L. 1400 also incorporated another theme into their
actions: 2008 starts now!
While CWA L. 2204 members in Roanoke, VA,
picketed outside Verizon locations, local rep Criscione
told the Roanoke
Times, "They've built a wall around those two
businesses. They've prevented us from organizing
there."
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CWA L. 9510 in Orange,
CA |
Members also turned out in Harrrisburg, PA; Marion, OH
(CWA L. 4371); Seattle (IBEW L.
89); and many other places. (Send us your stories
& photos!)
A Non-Union
Verizon "Experience"
In Texas, CWA L. 6171 paid a visit to the
new "Verizon
Experience" store near Ft. Worth. The high-tech store is
aimed at customers who want to try out products before ordering.
The store sells the full range of Verizon's residential services
-- including landline, FiOS, FiOS TV, and VoiceWing -- with
no union employees.
 During their visit, 6171 members
in red shirts talked with employees. The store is divided into
two parts. One side offers wireless service and phones and is
staffed by Verizon Wireless employees. The other side
has voice and data service, including DSL and FiOS and is
staffed by contractors.
Verizon is considering building more of these stores if the
first one is successful. | 
At Verizon Business we do
not have a voice as to how the quarterly income is spent.
However, we are the bright young men and women that insure the
quarterly income is beyond expectations. We are the people who
stay after hours without overtime and work thru our non-paid
lunch hour to ensure Verizon Business is glowing in the stock
market. We should be heard!
