Hundreds of telephone workers united in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the Communications Workers of America (CWA) rallied for good jobs on Thursday, August 5 at Verizon's New England headquarters. The current labor agreement with Verizon expires on August 6, 2011.
Myles Calvey, Business Manager of IBEW Local 2222 and chair of the New England telephone workers' bargaining committee was the Master of Ceremonies. "A year before our contracts expire, we're sending a message to Verizon's top management that we'll fight for the preservation of good jobs, quality health care and secure pension benefits in negotiations next year," said Calvey.
"Some very profitable companies are using the recession as an excuse to demand givebacks and concessions from their employees," added Calvey. "We want to make it clear to management that union members aren't going to fall for that nonsense at Verizon."
Verizon's second quarter finances showed $9.8 billion in cash flow from operations, up nearly 30 percent from 2009. The $108 billion company had $5.5 billion in free cash flow, up nearly 77 percent from the second quarter in 2009.
Verizon had significant job cuts in 2010. There are now 24,500 fewer employees than one year ago -- and it spent $2.3 billion in the second quarter dealing with union negotiated buyouts to avoid layoffs. "We protected our members during unprecedented job cuts," said Calvey. "But I expect that job security will continue to be a major issue in next year's contract talks."
Lt. Gov. Tim Murray was the first rally speaker. "Deval Patrick and I have been working to promote economic development across the Commonwealth," said Murray. "With that priority, we want to make sure that all our employers respect workers' rights and provide the good jobs our communities need. Verizon is one of Massachusetts' largest employers. We will stand with you to support good wages and working conditions for all its employees."
Other speakers at the rally included Congressman Stephen F. Lynch; Sec. of State Bill Galvin; Rep. Marty Walsh; Mass. AFL-CIO Pres. Bob Haynes; Executive Sec.-Tres. of the Greater Boston Labor Council Rich Rogers; Jobs with Justice Director Russ Davis; Ed Fitzpatrick, Pres., IBEW Local 2222; Don Trementozzi, Pres., CWA Local 1400; Bill McGowan, Bus. Mgr, IBEW Local 2323; Ed Starr, Bus. Mgr, IBEW Local 2321; Dave Keating, Bus. Mgr, IBEW Local 2325; and John Rowley, Bus. Mgr, IBEW Local 2324.
The workforce reductions, buyouts and layoffs in recent years stem largely from landline losses, but also from Verizon's massive shift away from rural America. Despite strong union opposition, Verizon has sold off its landlines in Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and most recently in West Virginia and 13 other states, substantially reducing union membership.
Meanwhile, the company has focused its investments in the largely unregulated -- and as yet mostly nonunion wireless side of its business.
"Verizon's top management has built an artificial wall separating wireless and other business operations from wireline," said Don Trementozzi, President of CWA Local 1400. "Management is using this wall to block members from the high growth, high profit segments of the company."
"We are gearing up to fight for enhanced organizing rights for Verizon Wireless workers and to help them unite for wages and working conditions comparable to ours," added Trementozzi. "If we don't, Verizon will continue to use its 'divide and conquer' tactics to undermine our contracts." Local 1400 represents hundreds of Verizon workers at call centers throughout Massachusetts.
Both unions have been educating members and building support for enhanced organizing rights for Verizon Wireless employees. Members at IBEW Local 2222 and delegates to the recent CWA national convention have passed resolutions in support of the campaign.
Because customer and community support is so critical to winning good contracts, telecom workers have been building support in anticipation of the 2011 contract.
Members at both unions very actively supported striking workers at Shaw's Methuen warehouse. "I'll be there to support the telephone workers," said UFCW Local 791 member Laurie Comeau-Hunter Mahoney who attended the rally. "We can never repay IBEW and CWA enough for all that they have done for Shaw's workers."
Pictures from the rally may be viewed on the Picasa photo sharing website at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/randwilson.aflcio/AYearAndADayVerizonContractCampaignRally
About 8,000 Verizon workers in Massachusetts and Rhode Island are united in the IBEW and CWA.
