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Hundreds and hundreds of CWA workers lined Main Street in White Plains as CWA members told Verizon they were united and ready to strike if need be. The sea of red shirts which filled up the entire block in front of the Verizon office at 111 Main Street stood firmly behind their leadership and called upon Verizon to settle now.
Tony Pagano, President of the Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Body AFL-CIO, said that the 110,000 union workers and their families represented by the council would stand behind them in their fight. He said that they would not allow one worker to be transferred from this county or state. He said that if necessary, Verizon would be shown what it is like to be hurt in its pocketbook. Joining Tony at the rally were union members from: Utility Workers Union # 1-2; Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Workers/UFCW # 338; Westchester Community College Federation of Teachers, AFT # 2431; New York’s Health & Human Service Union, SEIU #1199; Operating Engineer, IUOE # 30; Yonkers Federation of Teachers, AFT # 860; Service Employees Union # 32BJ; United Food and Commercial Workers Local # 1500 and a representative of the AFL-CIO North East Region.
Bruce Kiminsky spoke at the rally accepting a $4000.00 check from CWA toward the quarter of a million dollar pledge CWA made to the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at the Westchester Children’s Hospital. He said that CWA union members had already raised $75,000.00 for the hospital and thanked them for their hard work.
State Assemblyman Adam Bradley also took the microphone in support of the workers. Also on hand to support workers were White Plains Councilpersons Robert Greer and Bob Boykin and candidate for the Yonkers City Council President Chuck Schorr Lesnick. Rally time restrictions did not allow them to speak, however.
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