“iWon’t”: Union Campaign Urges Refusal of New or Upgraded Verizon Service for iPhone 4S Until Company Agrees to a Fair Con

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As Bay Area consumers line up to buy the new iPhone Friday morning, union workers will be there too, urging them to fight corporate greed by refusing to choose or upgrade Verizon Wireless service until the company does right by its workers.

At Apple's flagship Stockton Street store in San Francisco, leafleting will begin at 7:30 a.m. and continue through the morning rush, followed by a 12:30 p.m. press conference. Union workers also will reach out to Friday shoppers at Apple stores throughout the East Bay, South Bay and the Peninsula.

"We know tech lovers are eager to get their hands on the latest offering from Apple," said Libby Sayre, Northern California area director for Communications Workers of America (CWA). "We're asking that when they do, they take into account the labor record of the service provider they choose. We're sure that union families in particular won't want to support a company that doesn't support its workers."

The actions are part of a nationwide "iWon't" campaign supported by CWA, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), MoveOn.org, the AFL-CIO, US Action, Jobs with Justice, the National People’s Alliance and other allies.

Through advertising, grassroots outreach and online activism, the groups are asking all Americans to delay upgrading to the new iPhone on Verizon Wireless until the company agrees to a fair contract with its workers.

Since August, 45,000 Verizon and Verizon Wireless workers have been fighting to protect their health care coverage and other standard benefits against company demands for massive takebacks.

Despite their call for cuts, Verizon has reported record profits and paid hundreds of millions to its top executives.

“Throughout the strike, we heard messages of support from literally hundreds of thousands of Americans who are sick and tired of profitable companies like Verizon and Verizon Wireless showering millions on their CEOs while taking away good jobs,” said Chris Shelton, District 1 vice-president of CWA. “Today, we are asking everyone who cares about the future of the middle class to help us fight back.”

“MoveOn.org's 5 million members are committed to fighting the corporate greed that is crushing the American Dream," said Justin Ruben, executive director of MoveOn.org. "Verizon and Verizon Wireless jump through hoops to avoid paying federal taxes, dole out millions to their top executives, and then have the audacity to cut back and ask their workers to pay the price. We are joining the iWon't Campaign and asking consumers to get the new iPhone on Verizon only when Verizon and Verizon Wireless treat their employees with the respect and fairness they deserve.”

For details on “iWon’t” actions throughout the Bay Area, journalists may call John Dugan, 916-541-3766 or jdugan@cwa-union.org or Libby Sayre, 916-541-3765 or lsayre@cwa-union.org.

CONTACT:

For Communications Workers of America
John Dugan, 916-541-3766
jdugan@cwa-union.org
Libby Sayre, 916-541-3765
lsayre@cwa-union.org

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  California

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:   Technology  Consumer Electronics  Telecommunications  Public Policy/Government  Labor  Professional Services  Other Professional Services

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