After 36,000 Verizon workers walked off the job Wednesday as part of a union strike, Democratic presidential contenders Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton both got involved in the ongoing labor dispute.
Verizon employees represented by the Communication Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, involved in a 10-month contract negotiation with Verizon management, point to offshoring, outsourcing to contractors and out-of-state assignments, among other issues, as prompting the strike.
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) actually spoke to workers striking in Buffalo, N.Y.
“I know that going on strike is not something that’s easily done,” Sanders said. “I know there’s going to be a lot of pain involved. I want to thank you for standing up to the outrageous greed of Verizon and corporate America. When you do that, you’re not just standing up for your own members — you’re standing up for working people all over this country. What you are saying is that at a time when multinational corporations are making record profits, they should not be demanding cutbacks in workers’ health care, in workers’ pensions or workers’ wages. And they sure as hell should not be sending calling centers to the Philippines and other countries.”
Former Secretary of State Clinton said in a statement: “I am disappointed to learn that negotiations have broken down between Verizon and their workers, represented by the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Verizon should come back to the bargaining table with a fair offer for their workers. To preserve and grow America’s middle class, we need to protect good wages and benefits, including retirement security. And we should be doing all we can to keep good-paying jobs with real job security in New York.
“Instead, Verizon wants to outsource more and more jobs. That would mean walking away from workers who have been part of their family and our communities for years — the workers who install and repair our phone and cable service, and who respond to customer needs day and night. We rely on these men and women as part of the communications infrastructure that keeps businesses and our economy moving. Verizon should do the right thing and return to negotiations.
“I believe in the power of collective bargaining. If elected president, I will do everything in my power to protect workers, protect unions, and give businesses the incentives and support to keep jobs here. I will also fight for an America where workers do not have to go on strike to have health care, secure jobs and pensions.”
In 2011, 45,000 Verizon workers went on strike.
