Politics & Government

Del. Englin Joins Union Workers in Protest of Verizon Communications

Virginia delegate also asks parties to resolve differences.

Del. David Englin, who represents Virginia’s 45th district in the General Assembly, joined members of the Communication Workers of America at picket lines on Tuesday showing support for their strike against Verizon Communications and urged the parties to resolve their differences.

“I proudly joined members of the Communications Workers of America Local 2222 at picket lines in Alexandria and Fairfax to stand with them in their strike against Verizon,” Englin said. “These are men and women who work long hours at highly skilled and dangerous jobs to keep America’s vital telecommunications infrastructure working, even under hazardous conditions during the worst kinds of emergencies.”

The telecommunications union on Aug. 12 filed unfair labor practice charges against the telecommunications firm for labor law violations in contract negotiations covering Verizon, Verizon Wireless and VCSI workers.

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The charges were filed with National Labor Relations Board offices in New York and Baltimore to make the case that Verizon has refused to bargain in good faith with CWA.

Englin added that Verizon’s chief executive makes roughly 1,000 times the salary of the average Verizon employee. “Does anyone seriously believe he works one thousand times harder or is one thousand times more dedicated, professional, and conscientious than men and women working on the front lines?," he asked.

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Verizon did not return calls by publication time. However, there are several press releases on its website indicating friction between the union and the firm.

Verizon charges that union workers have sabotaged its network facilities since Aug. 6. "Our management team is doing an outstanding job of serving customers despite some strikers' attempts to obstruct our efforts," said Bob Mudge, Verizon president of consumer and mass markets in a statement. "We are committed to meeting customers' needs, and we're hearing from many of them that we're doing just that."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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