On-Strike Verizon Workers Want Fair Contract

Commuters traveling along Center Street (Rte. 28) may witness a small part of a national standoff, as a small group of Verizon workers clothed in red shirts marched outside the company's Manassas location, picket signs in hand. 

"This is a strike but we would rather be at work," said Stephanie Whiting, a cable splicer with the company for over 20 years.

Along with Whiting, a handful of protestors marched back and forth, carrying signs that read, "Hands Off our Benefits" and "CWA on Strike Against Verizon's Corporate Greed."

The group of about 5 arrived at the location 7 a.m. Tuesday and said they would not leave until 4 p.m. They're among the thousands of Verizon workers along the East Coast from Rhode Island to New York to Washington D.C. are on strike this week as the result of a contract dispute.

The 45,000 workers, represented by the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhoood of Electrical Workers unions, say that Verizon is demanding too many concessions as they try to renew their contracts. 

Whiting said the company is only making demands. They are "taking away our right to collectively bargain," she said.

The New York Times reports that Verizon's demands include asking workers pay between $1,500 to $3,000 for family coverage, freezing pensions for current employees, and getting rid of traditional pensions for future employees in an effort to cut costs.

Retirees would also be affected, Whiting said.

But picketer Scott Wolfing said Tuesday that the company saw historical profits in the second quarter.

In a press release issued Sunday, Marc C. Reed, Verizon's executive vice-president of human resources, said that customer service would be unaffected and that the cuts to benefits were due to a difficult economic climate. 

"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," Reed said. "It's also our intent that under a new contract, Verizon employees will continue to receive competitive pay and benefit programs."

But the protestors along Center Street are unconvinced. They say that while the economy is poor, and the landline section that they work may be declining, Verizon's overall business is doing quite well, raking in $6.9 billion in the first six months of this year alone.

The workers, some who live and work in Manassas, said they would keep protesting until the dispute was settled. 

Whiting said their contract expired Aug. 6 and that union and company representatives were meeting on Tuesday for talks.