Striking Verizon Workers Picket Locally

Local Verizon workers picketed the company’s offices on Little East Neck Road Monday as part of a strike that is impacting the telecommunications company.

Members of two unions, Communications Workers of America (CWA) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, represent wire line employees who deal with Verizon's FIOS division, as well as cable and land line installation. The wireless segment of the company is not affected.

Philip Forcino, a shop steward for CWA Local 1108, said the strike was called on Sunday because "the company wants to turn back 50 years of progress."

"We're not the enemy," said Forcino, a West Islip resident who works in the company’s Bohemia office. "We are just middle class people who want what we're owed: good working wages. If we gave into Verizon's demands I couldn't live on Long Island."

Disputed concessions include pension freezes, health care coverage cuts, and a proposal to end Veteran's Day as a paid holiday, according to Forcino.

"This is not a hurting company," he said. "They were very profitable this year, and they want to line their pockets, and they're trying to break the union. The landlines are crucial for hospitals, residents, and that's how Verizon built the company in the first place."

The dozen or so workers outside the Babylon location join 45,000 employees across the region. Anita Caruso, a FIOS lineman who works across Suffolk County, says that although she's worried about how being on strike will impact her financially, the consequences of accepting the contract concessions are too great.

"I own my own home and I am worried about paying my mortgage and bills," Caruso said. "If the company gets what it wants, then I will be out of a job, even though I have 13 years and am a darn good employee."

No reports of customers in the local area being affected have been circulating yet. Verizon has said that managers and other employees will be pressed into relief service, but service delays are possible.

The red-clad strikers appeared well supported by the local community: many cars beeped their support as they passed the CWA union members, and passers-by stopped to chat and learn about the dispute.

John Bonomo, Verizon’s media relations director, told Patch that despite the sudden loss of its existing workforce the company doesn't expect any disruption in its field and telephone-based customer service departments.

He said it began hiring retirees and training managers to fill those roles when the unions first announced their strike plans a few weeks ago.

"We implemented that plan on Sunday after the two unions called a strike and inconvenienced our customers," Bonomo said.

He said the company is still answering repair calls, performing installations and taking orders, though he admitted the scope of the strike on Long Island is far-reaching, with Verizon garages throughout the region.

Henry Powderly contributed to this story.