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June 6, 2016 
By Stephanie West
Washington, DC – APWU President Mark Dimondstein commended the Verizon workers for “standing firm over the course of a 46-day work stoppage," despite the fact that the company brought in 'replacement workers' and discontinued the strikers’ health coverage.
“The workers won a great victory by standing up for themselves, their families and working people everywhere.” Dimondstein also praised the APWU locals that organized members to support Verizon workers and walked with them on picket lines in many cities.
The strike by members of the CWA and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers began April 13. The company raked in $39 billion in profits in the last three years, but still demanded concessions from workers. “Verizon relented only because the workers’ power disrupted their operations,” Dimondstein said.
More than 40,000 striking Verizon workers returned to work on June 1, after the company and union negotiators signed a tentative agreement. Under the terms of the proposed contract, Verizon agreed that no additional jobs will be outsourced overseas. Verizon also granted raises and increased benefit to workers.
“This contract is a victory for working families across the country and an affirmation of the power of working people,” said Chris Shelton, president of the Communications Workers of America. “It proves that when we stand together we can raise up working families, improve our communities and advance the interests of America’s working people.”
