Verizon Employees Prepared to Strike for 'As Long As It Takes'

Unionized Verizon employees, who have come out strongly against proposed changes to their wages, health care and benefits plans by their company, began a strike against Verizon over the weekend when contract negotiations between the two parties failed to come to an agreement.

In Wakefield, local members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers joined the strike by standing out in front of the Main Street Verizon building with signs on Monday.

"We're staying out here as long as it takes," said David Kelliher, a Somerville resident who has worked at the company for 28 years, and has worked at the Wakefield location since June of 1998.

The demonstrations started over the weekend at other Verizon locations throughout the Eastern United States over the weekend, and began this morning at 7 a.m. at the Wakefield location.

Verizon’s proposals include limiting sick days, eliminating two holidays, and freezing pensions, among other changes.

The Protest
In Wakefield on August 8, about ten employees stood outside of the building, facing their management, which stood in another group a few feet away.

"They lowered our raises in two prior contracts to keep us on a no-pay healthcare system," said Bob Cabral of Reading, who has worked for Verizon for 33 years. "Six to seven years later, and they want to downgrade our healthcare, too."

"We built these landlines up and down the East Coast, and they come in and buy it and implement all these changes, it shouldn't be right," said Cliff Cioffi, a Verizon employee for the last 24 years.

Verizon Response
The group of Verizon managers on scene in Wakefield declined to give a comment.

In a Verizon corporate press release, the company said it has trained thousands of employees and others to fill the roles of its unionzed workers during the strike.

"We are confident that we have the talent and resources in place to meet the needs and demands of our customers," said Marc C. Reed, Verizon's executive vice-president of human resources, in a press release.  "We will continue to do our part to reach a new contract that reflects today's economic realities in our wireline business and addresses the needs of all parties. It's also our intent that under a new contract, Verizon employees will continue to receive competitive pay and benefit programs."