May 3, 2016                                

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

            Tomorrow marks the beginning of our fourth week on strike and in all my career I have never been more proud of you my Brothers and Sisters in Labor. Every day now you have show up to the picket lines with enthusiasm and spirit and a deep determination to win a fair contract and I am honored to be counted among you.

We have not taken this course lightly, we know the struggle will be hard but in this struggle our true strength will be revealed. Verizon has revealed its self to the world as the poster child of corporate greed. Their greed will be their down fall because no amount of money can buy them the strength and fortitude that you have.  Unions from across the nation have rallied around us and promised us their support but most importantly the public is behind us. We have seen such an out pouring of support from the public because they know that Verizon is everything that is wrong with corporate America.

For ten months the company has made one retrogressive demand after another and still to this very day Verizon refuses to address any of your concerns. Instead they have engaged in one scare tactic after another. They have all the time and money to make videos explaining how wonderful they are but they could only spend two hours with our bargaining team on Monday before they told us to get lost.  

Brothers and Sisters you are the strength of the labor movement and you will win this fight.

Stand Fast and Hold the Line.

Todd Kelsey

Vice President