Verizon Strike Continues Amid Failed CWA Union Talks

Verizon and the Communications Workers of America are still working on reaching an agreement to end the strike that started on April 13th. Both sides have released statements to the media citing a lack of cooperation on both sides. The 40,000 striking workers have been picking across New York City and the cities affected by the strike along the East Coast.

Democratic Presidential hopeful Senator Bernie Sanders joined strikers on the pick line to encourage them to stand up for their demands in the strike. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave words of encouragement for strikers from the campaign trail.

Verizon prepared its team for the strike when negotiations were failing in the weeks before workers walked off the job. Bob Mudge, president of Verizon’s wireline network operations said in a statement days before the strike that the company was ready if a strike happened. After the strike was officially announced the company released another statement expressing regret for the bad situation.

“It’s regrettable that union leaders have called a strike, a move that hurts all of our employees,” Marc Reed, Verizon’s chief administrative officer said in a statement. “Since last June, we’ve worked diligently to try and reach agreements that would be good for our employees, good for our customers and make the wireline business more successful now and in the future. Unfortunately, union leaders have their own agenda rooted in the past and are ignoring today’s digital realities. Calling a strike benefits no one, and brings us no closer to resolution.”

The CWA has accused Verizon of unfair wages, sending jobs overseas and failing to complete FiOS installations in areas where workers would benefit from the wages.

“We’re standing up for working families and standing up to Verizon’s corporate greed,” said CWA District 1 Vice President Dennis Trainor said in a statement. “If a hugely profitable corporation like Verizon can destroy the good family-supporting jobs of highly skilled workers, then no worker in America will be safe from this corporate race to the bottom.”

Over the past five years, Verizon has invested billions in infrastructure upgrades in New York City and along the east coast. The company recently announced a plan to improve critical wiring and infrastructure to help improve service in Boston.