For Immediate Release
Friday, August 15, 2003
AFSCME's 750,000 East Coast Members Set To Leave Verizon
Largest union on the East Coast Stands in Solidarity with CWA and IBEW
WASHINGTON —The American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, the largest union on the East Coast, is standing in solidarity with the with the Communication Workers of America (CWA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) who are in the midst of contract negotiation with Verizon.
AFSCME's 750,000 East Coast members are joining the "Fairness at Verizon" community campaign and are poised to switch their local and long distance phone service to AT&T, another unionized carrier, if and when union leaders determine that Verizon officials are no longer bargaining in good faith.
"It is outrageous that Verizon is trying to shift higher health care costs onto employees and retirees while paying its executives hundreds of millions over the past six years," said AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee.
McEntee continued, "AFSCME members support our 75,000 sisters and brothers in CWA and the IBEW, and will do everything we can to help them win a new contract that preserves their jobs and provides the health care benefits and working conditions they deserve."
Despite reporting $4.1 billion in profits last year, Verizon is demanding the "flexibility" to lay off employees no matter what the circumstances and is also seeking to transfer jobs to lower wage areas of the country or overseas.
