‘We’re out here for the duration’
Published 10:17 pm Tuesday, April 26, 2016
![Striking Verizon workers Vattelle Major and Robert Robertson picket outside the Verizon Wireless store in downtown Suffolk on Tuesday.](https://www.suffolknewsherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2016/04/use-IMG_3524.jpg)
Striking Verizon workers Vattelle Major and Robert Robertson picket outside the Verizon Wireless store in downtown Suffolk on Tuesday.
Twenty striking Verizon workers picketed Tuesday outside the Verizon Wireless store on North Main Street Tuesday, a reflection of what’s happening across the country.
Approximately 39,000 Verizon landline and cable workers on the East Coast have been on strike since April 13. Two unions — the Communications Workers of America and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers — represent installers, customer service employees, repairmen and other service workers in the eastern United States.
“We’re out here for the duration,” said Tim Brown, a systems technician from Smithfield. “We’ll stay out here until we have a fair contract.
“We’re not trying to get more, we are just asking for job security.”
Most of the strikers in downtown Suffolk declined to comment, referring all questions to Brown.
Over the last two weeks, members of CWA Local 2201 have picketed outside Verizon Wireless stores in both the downtown and North Suffolk.
Several passersby honked the horn and waved on Tuesday. Just a couple of customers were inside the store around noon Monday, although employees would not say how the picket lines have impacted businesses.
Negotiations are at a stalemate, said company and union officials.
“To my knowledge, no new negotiations are planned,” said John O’Malley, corporate spokesman for Verizon. “The company stands ready to continue negotiations … that reflect the new realities of our competitive marketplace.
“We put forth a good offer that provided employees with great jobs and outstanding benefits.”