Verizon is about to strike a deal with four other media companies — Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, and Bright House Network — which will essentially create a monopoly. This deal is great for them, but bad for consumers. Under the proposed agreement, Verizon Wireless and these other major cable companies would jointly market each other’s products. Verizon and big cable will jointly dominate the market –eliminating consumer choices and massively increasing prices for consumers – all while increasing their own profits.
It’s time for the Public to know about this impending deal. That is why UnitedNY held a “Wireless Wednesday” action in front of The Verizon Store in Midtown Manhattan last week.
As the lunch rush of business people, tourists, and workers passed, volunteers handed out informational leaflets encouraging people to “Stop Verizon Greed – Don’t Buy Verizon Products.”
A large banner reading “Stop Verigreedy” right in front of the Verizon store in plain sight attracted much attention as passersby stopped to talk to us and take photos of the banner.
The action was an excellent opportunity to speak one-on-one with regular New Yorkers and educate them about the impending Verizon deal. Throughout the action, many people, encouraged by our chants, stopped to ask us “Why is Verizon Greedy?”
The answer was simple – while their CEO and other top executives makes millions of dollars, their workers are not paid enough – all while prices are raised for consumers.
Verizon, the Communications Workers of America (CWA), and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) are in the middle of contract negotiations, and the deadline to reach a contract is this Wednesday. But huge obstacles remain on the path to reaching a satisfactory contract settlement. Verizon continues to insist on unacceptable givebacks in the areas of health care, pensions, job security, and contracting out/off shoring.
We will continue to raise awareness about Verizon’s greed and how New Yorkers can put a stop to it. “Wireless Wednesday” actions are continuing throughout New York. Last week allies leafleted at about 20 key locations – including La Fuente (a community based organization), which held an action the day following UnitedNY’s actions.
To learn how you can stop Verizon greed, click here