Returning to Work
Tomorrow on June 1, 2016 we will be reporting back to work after 7 weeks on strike against Verizon. As I said before, I am so proud of what this local has accomplished and commitment to the cause of getting a fair contract with Verizon was outstanding.
Chief Stewards, Stewards and our members were on the street during all sorts of weather for 7 weeks but never backed down, never wavered, never faded. It is one of the main reasons for this union getting a fair contract. This company was counting on the membership to fold. It never happened. From mobile picketing, to Verizon locations and Verizon Wireless stores, we kept those lines strong and active. I thank you all so much. I'm very proud and honored to lead this local. We should all be proud.
I think we have learned something about Solidarity. We have said many times the importance of unity and honestly in the course of our regular business we sometimes forget what team we're on. But on April 13, 2016, when we started the strike at Zeckendorf Blvd at 6am that morning, the reality of what team you are on becomes quite clear. They're inside, you're outside. At that point and moving forward we learned that if we do this together, we can accomplish great things. And we did.
As our Executive Vice President, Mike Ippoliti, has said "You remember this moving forward. In your mind, in your heart and in your soul." He is spot on. Don't lose sight of that. Let's not go back to normal. I expect our members to go back to work and be the professionals you have always been. Not the mockery we saw from managers and scab workers. We stick together in our workplaces. We look out for one another. We stay the family we have been for the last seven weeks. We'll be there to remind you. Don't lose the feeling we have now. We discovered we can achieve wonderful results if we stay within our team and fight as one.
We will be having a General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, June 7, 2016at 66 Veterans Blvd, Massapequa, NY at 6:00pm. We will hold our ratification vote that same day at the same location from 3:00pm - 9:00pm. You can vote before or after the meeting on that day. We're hoping for a great turnout on that night.
In closing, I want to acknowledge the Board and Staff of Local 1104. Our Executive Board, Business Agents and Secretaries were fantastic during the last 7 weeks. We wanted to win this fight and tried to assure our members we would help them with their medical bills to give their families peace of mind, so we could succeed on the picket lines. I am so honored to be a part of this team and more importantly to be a part of the leadership that takes Local 1104 into the future, I also want to acknowledge and thank CWA District 1 Leadership... Vice President Dennis Trainer, Assistant to Vice President Gladys Finnigan, Area Director Billy Gallagher and to all the Staff Reps. Believe me folks, we are very lucky to have these hardworking dedicated people leading us through this strike and into the future. I thank you all and wish you all the best when returning to your careers. We will be there to help you in any way we can.
God Bless.
