"The longer the picket line, the shorter the strike."

(Laura Clawson)

Members recently received letters from Verizon announcing that it is canceling group benefit plans for striking workers. This is an action which employers often take in strike situations to try unsettle the resolve of the strikers. At CWA, we have faced this issue many times in the past and always protected our members and their families so that no one is harmed as a result of management’s ruthless act. This will be true for this strike as well.

A piece of news that won't be news for striking workers in today's Communications Workers of America Unity@Verizon (PDF) newsletter:

This is a hit at the greatest weapon the workers have: their resolve and their solidarity. There's no question that hearing that your benefits were being canceled could rattle you, but CWA is sending a strong "don't worry, we're handling this" message, not just in the language here but by not, thus far, bringing Verizon's move into the PR battle. (They don't appear to have sent out a press release, for instance.) Doubtless workers are hearing a lot more details on this from their locals.