Verizon Strike: Single Mother Tells CEO Why She's Striking

Editor's Note: This article is part of an ongoing series. Catch up on the latest news about the Verizon strike here.

Departing from the increasingly vitriolic dialogue of the Verizon worker strike of 2016, a local parent and union member issued a heartfelt message to Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam for Mother’s Day.

In commemoration of Sunday’s holiday, Amanda Poe, a maintenance administrator in Wilmington, Delaware, explained why she was striking alongside almost 40,000 other Verizon employees.

“Striking is never an easy decision, and I did not make the decision lightly. As a part of this strike, I feel like you need to know what is on the line for my family. I am a single mother of two gorgeous teenage girls who I adore. They are my life. They are the reason that I am the person I am today, and they are the reason that I need a contract that includes job security, a job in my community, and affordable health benefits.”

Poe continued:

“Raising daughters is a difficult task in itself, but imagine raising one with a birth defect that affects her daily life. My youngest daughter Halley was born in May of 2001 with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. She had a large hole in her palate, and her lip was not fully developed. She was unable to eat or drink normally. At the time, she was diagnosed as one of the most extreme cases ever recorded in my state. The doctors assured me that after a few surgeries, she could live a normal life. I promise you that there is nothing normal about handing your baby over for surgery every few years. She has undergone five surgeries to date, and she requires a few more. My health coverage during her younger years covered her surgeries and the extensive hospital stay associated with each surgery. I have always been grateful for that coverage. Changes to the health coverages offered by Verizon could prevent us from getting the help Halley needs to complete her health care plan. I am currently paying out of pocket for orthodontics; I am now paying for her fifth set of braces. Affordable health care is not an option for me — it is a necessity. Is she worth it? Absolutely.”

She concluded her letter with this heartfelt plea for understanding:

“I am not just a number Mr. McAdam. I am someone’s mom… When making changes and negotiating this contract, please remember that we all have lives and stories. Our stories are what make us human and real. I am trying to raise my children to be responsible adults, and I am leading by example. Please try do the same when dealing with our jobs. Please be the corporate leader that other companies follow, not because you make money, but because you make families possible. I want to be there for my kids, and I want to be able to tell them that Verizon is helping us on our journey. Allow me to raise my kids in my community; provide me healthcare I can afford. I will always be their mother, but will I have a job that allows me to be a mom?”

Read the full blog entry here.

According to union leaders, Verizon Chairman and CEO Lowell McAdam earns 200 times more than the average Verizon employee.

In addition, the company’s top five executives allegedly made $233 million over the last five years.

Photo: Stand Up To Verizon, Facebook

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