CWA Exploits 9/11 Heroes as Part of Contract “Negotiations”
Continuing with their disturbing negotiation tactics post-strike, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) released an ad in The New York Times on Wednesday exploiting the work of 9/11 heroes in the hopes of settling their contract dispute with Verizon.
The advertisement shows a CWA worker standing in front of a construction site with the words “When the towers came down he stepped up” written on the top of the page. Underneath this, in smaller print, it says “But now he’s sick and Verizon wants to slash his benefits.”
CWA employees at Verizon currently pay nothing toward their health care benefits which are, on average, $50,000 per year—higher than the average American household income. The new contract asks union employees for a monthly premium contribution of as little as $100. Verizon, in order to stay competitive in the wireless market, needs these small concessions so their business can stay afloat.
The average salary of a unionized technician is around $80,000—more than $30,000 greater than the average American household income. A separate piece from The New York Times urges Americans to honor and commemorate the heroes of 9/11, and warns against exploiting the memory of their work with crass publications on the 10th Anniversary of this tragic event. It is important that CWA takes heed of this message and respects the memory of these heroic men and women, not invoke their remembrance for personal gain.
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