Workers Rally in Cities Across America Against Verizon's Corporate Greed

Washington, D.C. -- Verizon workers, members of the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, joined by progressive allies and AFL-CIO activists – are holding rallies and actions in nearly 300 communities as a part of a nationwide day of action against Verizon’s corporate greed.

“Today, Americans across the country are saying enough is enough with corporate America’s race to the bottom. Corporations like Verizon are squeezing the middle-class in an endless push toward low wages and no benefits. If Verizon can undo fifty years of gains by their workers while they make billions in profits, then no one’s job is safe. Together we are demanding that the American economy start to work for the 99% again, not just for the Verizon top 1%,” said Ron Collins, CWA chief of staff.

Verizon has made tens of billions in profits and paid its top executives $280 million in salary and bonuses in the last four years. But when it comes to the tens of thousands of employees who made Verizon’s success possible, suddenly the company cries broke. Verizon is sending thousands of American jobs overseas, and wants to gut retirement security, health care and other benefits for employees, retirees, and even workers who get hurt on the job.

“Companies like Verizon represent all that is wrong with our economy today: billions in profits, millions for executives, and cuts for everyone else. If even successful companies like Verizon are allowed to ship our jobs overseas and ask the employees they have left to give up fifty years of progress, the American dream is in serious trouble. Today’s Day of Action is about more than the 45,000 Verizon workers still without a contract, this fight is about the future of the middle class itself,” Collins said.

Verizon, the 16th largest corporation in America, made $22.5 billion in profits and paid its top five executives $280 million over the last four years—yet it wants to eliminate pensions, force workers to pay thousands of dollars more for health care, slash sick time and eliminate job security. The company's philosophy seems to be that working people aren’t entitled to decent wages with health care and retirement security, no matter how profitable the employer.

Check out www.stopverizongreed.com for a list of rallies and other activities taking place today.

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Contact: Candice Johnson or Chuck Porcari, CWA Communications 202-434-1168

cjohnson@cwa-union.org or cporcari@cwa-union.org