Today, CWA Verizon workers began their march from Albany to New York City in protest of Verizon’s immense corporate greed at the expense of its employees. A large group of union members, activists, elected officials, and community leaders gathered in front of Verizon’s headquarters on State Street in Albany to kick off their long march.
This march builds on the success of CWA’s August strike, which sent the message that workers would not allow Verizon to set the terms of their contract without real negotiations. CWA workers are rallying drawing attention to the fact that Verizon is attempting to force concessions on it’s workforce despite reporting $19.5 billion in profits.
Verizon represents not just the 1%, but the top one-tenth of 1% in this country. The company’s five highest executives took home $258 million in salary and benefits over the last four years. Yet, Verizon paid no federal income taxes from 2008 to 2010 and instead received $951 million in tax rebates.
Speakers at the rally induced New York State Senator Neil Breslin, CWA District 1 Vice President Chris Shelton, Capital District Area Labor Federation President Mary Sullivan, Assemblymember Jack McEneny, Mary Sullivan, and Citizen Action of New York Executive Director Karen Scharff, among others.
Video coming soon