Tell Verizon: Respect Workers' Rights

Verizon Business workers want a union!  A clear majority of technicians at Verizon Business in New York and New England have signed authorization cards showing they want to be represented by CWA and IBEW. 

But Verizon management refuses to recognize the majority's choice.  Instead, they have launched an anti-union campaign, spreading misinformation about unions and holding "captive-audience" meetings.
 
Tell Verizon to stop union-busting!

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Verizon: Respect Workers' Rights

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am disappointed to hear that Verizon Business is ignoring the choice of a majority of your workers to form a union. I urge you to respect the choice these workers have made by signing authorization cards and recognize the union.

As you know, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Employee Free Choice Act, which, once enacted, will allow workers to form a union when a simple majority signs union authorization cards. While this is not yet the law of the land, I believe you should follow the lead of the House of Representatives and grant union recognition to these workers.

Verizon has agreed in the past to recognize the union when a majority of workers sign union authorization cards. It is time to do so again. A clear majority of Verizon Business technicians want a union, and their choice should be honored.

Respect the free choice of a majority of Verizon Business employees.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
April 05, 2007


Background Information

Verizon Business technicians deserve the same pay, benefits, job security, and seniority protection as union members at Verizon Communications who do similar work.  Instead, the company has built a wall between the company’s unionized workforce and employees of the new Verizon Business.

After Verizon Communications acquired MCI in 2006, Seidenberg created a new subsidiary called Verizon Business.  While Verizon Communications has more than 85,000 employees who are members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) or the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), MCI’s workers did not have the benefit of union representation.  Now, the unrepresented workers at Verizon Business are demanding the justice and respect that come with a union contract, just like their CWA and IBEW co-workers enjoy. 

Following solidarity rallies in New York City and Boston, Verizon Business technicians from New England to Pittsburgh started signing union authorization cards.  They were bolstered in their organizing campaign on March 1 when the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Employee Free Choice Act, which, once enacted, will require companies to recognize the choice of workers like those at Verizon Business when a majority signs union authorization cards.  (Learn more about the Employee Free Choice Act.)

Tell VP Toohey and CEO Seidenberg we expect better from Verizon. Tell them to listen to the workers—and members of Congress and state and local officials—and respect Verizon Business employees' freedom to choose to form their unions.