Verizon Strike News: More Verizon Employees Will Join
Employees of Verizon were seen with picket lines all over Western New York as they tried to send the company a message.
It was revealed that there were 700 workers on strike to demand better contracts from Verizon. There was an appeal to improve the wages, job security, and health care benefits stated in their contracts. The employees were picketing outside of Verizon's headquarters, in 65th Franklin Street. In addition, they also assembled around the Verizon retail stores along Walden and Union.
Reports revealed that the Union employees had to get their contracts renewed last August. The employees have been trying to negotiate with the company, including a 6.5 percent increase in their wages. The company also explained that they were planning to make improvements to the health care. However, there were no specifics revealed about what they were going to change.
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Union leader Myles Calvey explained the reason for the strike in a statement. He said, "For months and months, we've made every effort to reach a fair agreement at the bargaining table. We've offered Verizon hundreds of millions of dollars in cost savings and yet they still refuse to provide basic job security for workers. We have to take a stand now for our families and every American worker."
It was stated that several other Verizon workers are expected to go on strike all over the region. 500 workers from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers are also determined to show their support for the strike. Aside from that, other Verizon Employees from Virginia all the way to Massachusetts are also going to join the strike.
The president of the CWA Local 1122, James Wagner, stated that the employees will continue contesting the company regarding the request. He said, "We will strike this corporation for as long as it takes. I'm not going to comment on the exact dollar amount, but I'm going to tell you that it is a significant increase that our members believe is not just."
