Opponents of FairPoint sale hold huge rally at Verizon HQ
Ever since Verizon announced its troubling plans to sell its land line network in Northern New England to FairPoint Communications, concerned workers, consumers, and government officials in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont have mobilized to stop the sale.
Now opponents of the deal have taken their message to Verizon's headquarters. At a recent rally in New York City, thousands of Verizon workers, labor leaders, and elected officials gathered to protest the company's deal with FairPoint.
The Communications Workers of America and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers have joined forces to block the sale because it would put both workers' and consumers' rights at risk. As IBEW Business Manager Myles Calvey said,
The sale of the Northern New England landlines would allow Verizon to abandon its telephone customers in these more-rural states, putting their lifelines in case of emergency at risk. The sale would also jeopardize the jobs of more than 3,000 technicians, operators and service representatives throughout Northern New England. People need their phone to work – and this sale would make their service less reliable.
Rally-goers also took the opportunity to make a larger point about workers' rights – especially in light of next year's expiration of the workers' contract with Verizon. The telecom giant's employees must be guaranteed good wages, quality health coverage, and solid pensions.
Chris Shelton, vice president of CWA District 1, proclaimed,
As Verizon tries to sell off networks and prevent workers from organizing, this turnout today makes one thing clear: we are Verizon. Verizon likes to advertise that "it’s the network." Well, we – the members of CWA and IBEW are the network. We are the reason Verizon is the 13th largest corporation in America and made $6 billion in profits last year. They couldn’t do that without us. As we get closer and closer to bargaining with Verizon, they need to know we are ready to fight for our rights.
The Point? It's Not Fair (Speed Matters)
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