Gardner MA Verizon Strikers are reading DU. Let's cheer them on! (dial-up warning)

I don't believe I've EVER asked for a post rec....and never will again.
I want the Verizon strikers to know we are behind them.
They are getting NO local attention or press...

>Background<

This past weekend I was out with my camera to speak with and to support the area Verizon strikers. My son later told me that I didn't see them because they were in the back of the building.

I happened to be in the area last night....about a dozen strikers and 3 police officers. (they were awesome too!)
I got out of my car and spoke with them.

I told them that I found it quite odd that the area newspapers had nothing. They were not surprised. One said that there would be publicity if they could be portrayed as "thugs"

I told them that I could get people from across the country to view their actions!
I was welcomed with open arms....told them about DU, and that I would ensure that they
would be heard. They thanked me....expressed much appreciation....I said I'd see them tonight.

I placed a DU sticker on a poster to sign....
They knew they'd be seen and heard across America, so gave them the opportunity to say "Thanks!"
We are all as one.

I've never been in the midst of a strike....there were about twenty people...
All was calm...what an awesome group of people.
They had a schedule, and knew when the strike-breakers would come and go.

I arrived in the evening....they knew who would be exiting the building, and at what time.
When the Verizon 'workers' came out....the strikers circled the street and chanted.
The police stood by....all was calm. They allowed the strikers to walk in front of the Verizon workers for three to five minutes. The 'scabs' stood there awaiting their exit. The police then quietly signaled the strikers to move, and they did so. The workers then crossed the street, went to their cars to leave.

It started again. The strikers walked around the exit for several minutes as the workers waited to leave. And so it went.

Many signed the Thank You poster and I handed out some DU stickers. They know that Democrats and Progressives are with them....and it will be great for them to see this. I let them know that I was also a union worker....

They said that they were there for middle class Americans fighting for all working families who are just trying to make ends meet. Health care, pensions, sick time, etc, are at risk...

What a a uplifting experience! I met a lot of great people!
Love you guys!
Thanks for being there for all of us!













Another thing...please check in if you Google 'Verizon strikes', click a link, and get redirected to another site(usually Verizon)....It's happened to me several times...and they are aware.

Thank you DU...Thank you DUers...
A great place to spead the word from any little place with dedicated people making an impact!

peace~

for you too for supporting them.

Solidarity!


peace~

Solidarity!
And....I love your user name!;-)
Welcome to DU!



peace~

I talked my mom out of buying Verizon service for her cell phone. They're on strike, Mom, because the company wants to cut health benefits. She said she didn't have to go with Verizon.

We will NOT cross picket lines. Would love to join you on one (yes, I have walking shoes).

Thank you for showing appreciation!
I recently closed my Verizon account ....without knowing what was coming.


peace~

Look at this guy!
Loved getting his picture taken with the DU sticker so he could check us out!


peace~

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :hi: anonymous Verizon guy

With you all the way.

It takes courage to strike, and I am proud of them.

:applause:

I only made them visible ...

And I thank you for all your work!


peace~

Tomorrow they will be joined by and eighty-five year old retired Verizon worker!!!
She's going to walk the line with them in the morning.

If I'm not up all night maybe I can be there ....crossing my fingers.

Thank you!


peace~

peace~

Love the "Can You Hear Us Now?" shirt, btw! All of you on the picket lines...

:yourock: :yourock: :yourock:

Thanks Dystopian for this thread letting us know about this, and your pics are great! I hope some of the strikers will come on DU and tell us whatever they think we should know, or whatever they'd like to about what's happening there.

Awesome! Had to get pics of that...
My elbow shadow::blush:

And...You're quite welcome....I did so little...
Oh yes! I do believe they will not only view the thread, but some will join.
I talked at length with a few...they were very interested in the site...
Told them I had also been out on the streets....but never on strike..

They rock!
AND...
:yourock:

Thank you!

peace~

What do you have to do? Strip naked? Blow something up? Hang in there--we are all behind you.

Have been checking the papers....nothing.
The Gardner News has ignored them...and the Verizon strike is big news.
That building has been in town forever...

Thanks for supporting them!
They appreciate it...greatly.

Solidarity!


peace~

Thanks for the story and pics. Dystopian. Can they hear DU now? :)


:hi:

:hi:

That was great!:D


Yes! I'm sure they can hear DU now!
Thanks to you!
Thanks to them!
Thanks to DU!


peace~

And thank you!
You can sign the petition...
Every signature counts...we can keep putting the pressure on.



http://action.cwa-union.org/c/1153/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=2657

peace~

:hi:

:yourock: :yourock::yourock:

We appreciate their concern for all of us!
We won't let them take our unions....

Signing the DU Thank You card:



peace~

I did and got a stupid form email back.

Thanks for striking and standing up for middle class America!

I got a form email back also....
Thanks for calling and emailing!





peace~

I'm looking for an alternative to Verizon for my land line home phone.

Even with $19 billion in profits, Verizon is crying poor:




I was SO moved when I got that. :cry:


:rofl:


Hang in there, strikers--we're with you!

There is a spirit of steadfast determination going all the way around the globe, gathering strength all the time.

Cheers!

100 percent behind the strikers!


:applause:

from CareerDiva:
http://www.evetahmincioglu.com/web/blog/2011/08/10/verizons-executives-will-never-strike/

They have a LOT OF NERVE stealing from workers to overpay themselves to such a ridiculous degree.

Fwiw, here's an article on the strikers in Baltimore:
http://www.baltimorebrew.com/2011/08/17/were-fighting-for-our-lives-here-verizon-strikers-say/

Here's another union article I was reading tonight, to maybe stiffen the strikers' resolve and those of us supporting them - on how the decline in the last 30 years started by us not standing by our unions. By Michael Moore, from website by DUer Trace:

http://worldnewstrust.com/all-content/30-years-ago-today-the-day-the-middle-class-died-michael-moore.html

thumbs UP :thumbsup:

good job!

What a courageous group of people!

:applause:

We are with you!

Glad to recommend this! Thank you for posting it!

DU stands with you!

:toast:

Keep up the good work people. If you want, log on and keep us informed on how it is going, tell us if you need anything.

Thank you for fighting the good fight!

America needs a crash course on the history of labor.

Stay strong!! This Wisconsin DU'er is with you 100%!

Solidarity, Verizon workers -- stand strong! I (heart) Labor!

:thumbsup:

The MSM does keep track of popular topics online, so exposure here could help get them back in the news.

Thank you all for the recs to put the Verizon workers on the greatest!!
I went back this morning...
I just got home....and was teary-eyed when I met father and daughter on the picket line.
He's eighty-two years old, and worked there before it was Verizon...New England Telephone.
He was a lineman. He worked for thirty-five years, and has been retired for twenty years.


I'm going to upload the pics...and am very emotional right now.
What a beautiful sight...inspiring!

With heartfelt thanks to all...



peace, joy, love~

:applause:

I am at the end of my 2 year service agreement with T-Mobile and was just about to hitch up for 2 years with Verizon when I heard about the strike.

I'm not sure who I'll give my business to at this point, but it sure won't be Verizon. Even though the loss of my business means practically nothing to a large corporation like Verizon, I'm hoping that there thousands of folks who make the same decision I've made as a way to voice their opinion about Verizon's treatment of its workforce.

peace & solidarity~

Workers have a right to work for fair ethically run businesses.

from CWA LOCAL 9410.

*CWA brothers and sisters will understand.

These are the two people who made my eyes well up with tears this morning....
Daughter works for Verizon, and father worked there before Verizon took over. (formerly New England Telephone)
He's eighty-two years old, worked for thirty-five years and has been retired for twenty years.
Inspiring and beautiful ...father joining his daughter on the line.
:loveya:
They were just beaming! I told them that my beloved father was a union carpenter.



He showed me his union card:


Father and Daughter signing the DU Thank You card..



I gave them a DU sticker .....they'll check out DU together!

Thank you DUers...from their hearts, from my heart...to yours.



peace~

:grouphug:

Press via tv. Not sure about the Post-Gazette. In every clip of company people, you can tell the lies and talking points without a playbook. So apparent.

:patriot:

Thank you, DU, for all your support!
We are all as one.








peace~

Go Union!

K&R

We are all one.

There's lots of strikers here in eastern MA, too. They love it when you wave and honk your horns.

TWU Local 2035 proudly stands with you.

Peace

John S. Churchin

K&R

Go union!!! Keep the faith and don't back down!! :applause: :applause: :applause:

:kick:

Flat on my back after abdominal surgery this morning, but proud to make this my first post.

This is what we need, people standing up for American workers.

And thanks to the OP for letting us know about them!

:kick:

:hi: to any of the strikers that may check in.

Hang in there, guys - we may not be with you in person, but DU is definitely with you in spirit!!

RV, union member from Alaska hugging you long distance. I love you all.

:toast:

Stay strong!

Thinking of you brothers and sisters as you keep up the fight for our union workplace rights. Solidarity!
Lou

Cause in the end we're all in this together :grouphug:

That's cool. I was SEIU as a nurse a few years back. Both grandfathers were Union Pacific railroaders. My dad was a union carpenter. Go Unions. The trades rock.

It's sickening! There is a direct correlation between America's prosperity and a strong middle class, yet everyone is scratching their heads as to why we're facing such economic hardships. Here's the reason: We don't have a jobs problem, we have a wages problem! While these CEOs are out yachting and chasing their secretaries around their offices, involved in affairs, just pushing around paper all day they have the audacity to cut workers pay and benefits. The same workers that make them their billions in profits, the same workers who actually produce something.

The GOPs ultimate goal: Slave labor with threats of termination if a worker even makes a fucking peep. I believe we are in the final countdown of a revolution. A revolution that is inevitable.

:kick:

PLEASE stop by the Labor Forum and say hello back; http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=367

K&R!

Omaha Steve

:fistbump:

salute you!

:kick:

:applause:

Why WOULDN't we want that?

Stay strong 2313!

No, it ain't easy. But you're part of a long and shining history of real people standing up for the rights of real people to be treated fairly in the workplace. You are part of the long march to a more equitable, just, sustainable society.

THANK YOU!

appreciatively,
Bright

I don't really believe in the rec/unrec thing for a discussion board, but I'll make an exception in this case. :)

Solidarity... stay strong.

May you achieve great results.

The WORLD needs you, and your efforts. we've got to take our power back, and you are on the front lines leading the way.

THANK YOU.

SOLIDARITY!

:) :toast: :bounce: :hi: :kick: :loveya: :donut: :hug: :grouphug: :pals: :fistbump: :headbang: :yourock: :woohoo: :applause: :patriot:

all the way out in Los Angeles! Keep up the good fight - you are not alone.

IBEW - :toast:

Former IBEW brother here.

:grouphug: :yourock: :yourock:

I really tried. The first night I had intentions of acknowledging all individually...I stayed up almost all night.
DUers are the greatest....then I went back with the strikers, and the thread got so huge...
Now I must simply express my thanks to all....

I printed out the DU site front page....will deliver to the union steward tonight.

The Gardner News finally arrived yesterday after the strikers told them that they would be joined by elderly retirees.
The strikers initially told me that they wouldn't get local media attention unless they were portrayed as 'thugs'

Today I see the opening line of the article:

GARDNER — Among the calls of “scab,” Verizon picket lines, and police Thursday two retirees reminisced about times past with the various iterations of the telephone company. “After being here for 32 years, I have to be here,” said Sophi Lore Melanson, of coming to the picket line.

(bold print mine) They were right.
***********************************
I also told them that I'd post the picture taken with them....



THANK YOU DU!



peace~

:yourock: