Telecom Workers Rally for Workplace Safety

Lynn, Mass. - About 75 telecom workers and community supporters rallied in support of a local Verizon technician who was recently threatened by a supervisor while acting in his capacity as an IBEW Local 2321 steward during a "captive audience" safety meeting.

In response to the steward's statement that management often retaliates against workers who ask questions during meetings, the foreman forcefully pointed his finger in the steward's face and said, "you're dead!!" For emphasis, he said it twice.

It is an unfair labor practice to threaten stewards for acting on behalf of the membership and it is just plain wrong to use violent threats to threaten anyone in the workplace. Verizon management is creating a "hostile work environment" for its employees in the Lynn garage and elsewhere.

IBEW union members are not going to tolerate violent threats in the workplace. They are demanding that Verizon apologize to the steward and take immediate steps to end the "hostile work environment" that it is responsible for in Lynn.

IBEW Local 2321's Business Manager Ed Starr was the Master of Ceremonies and principal organizer for the rally.

Speakers at the rally included IBEW T-6 Chair and Local 2222 Business Manager Myles Calvey, North Shore Labor Council President Jeff Crosby, CWA Local 1400 President Don Trementozzi, Jobs with Justice director Russ Davis, AFL-CIO Legislative Director Tim Sullivan, State Rep. Mark Falzone; Rep. Steven M. Walsh, and Lynn City Councilor Daniel F. Cahill.

One of the high points of the rally was a moving speech by Mike Upton, a strike captain and member of UFCW Local 791 who is on strike at the Shaw's warehouse in Methuen.

Pictures from the rally may be viewed on the Picasa photo sharing site at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/randwilson.aflcio/TelephoneWorkersRallyForWo...