Washington, DC – The Co-Chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN), released the following statement in support of the Verizon employees who have been working without a contract since August, and went on strike yesterday:
“For the last ten months, the men and women who work hard every day ensuring a dial tone, internet connection and TV signal for Verizon customers fought to ensure they received decent compensation in exchange for their work.” Rep. Grijalva said “Despite a $39 billion profit over the past three years, company executives seem more concerned about outsourcing, offshoring and freezing their workers' pensions. It's time for Verizon to start valuing its people over its profits - without the former, they never would have had the latter."
“Americans have a right to fair wages, workplace protections, and good benefits,” said Rep. Ellison. “With Verizon making billions of dollars in the last year, there's no reason they should be nickel-and-diming their hard-working employees by cutting their benefits and taking away their job security. I stand with the men and women on the picket line, and call on Verizon to come back to the negotiating table with a fair contract that will give their workers the wages and protections they deserve”
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