Raise the stakes for Verigreedy's board of directors (6/22)

Show solidarity with Verizon workers

On Friday, June 22, union members and community activists in Charlotte will join a nationwide day of action to mark the one-year anniversary of collective bargaining at Verizon by holding an info picket outside the restaurant of one of Verizon's most influential board members.

Our target in Charlotte is a restaurant owned by Verigreedy board member, Clarence Otis, Chairman and CEO of Darden Restaurants, the company which owns Capital Grille, Red Lobster, and the Olive Garden.

What: Info picket to hold Verizon board member Clarence Otis to account for his failure to value Verizon workers
When: Friday, June 22 at noon
Where: Capital Grille Charlotte,  201 North Tryon Street  Charlotte, NC 28202

In addition his $22 million compensation by Darden Restaurants, Mr. Otis gets paid $230,000 a year to sit on Verizon's board - a fat salary paid for by the labor of Verizon's 45,000 workers, members of CWA and IBEW, who have been working without a contract since June 22, 2011.  As one of Verizon's most influential directors, Mr. Otis has an opportunity - and responsibility - to get Verizon to bargain in good faith and agree on a new contract.

After all, the hard work of Verizon's employees has made Verizon a very profitable company - to the tune of $10 billion in 2011.

Despite that success, the company wants to make $1 billion in cuts that would cost each front-line worker more than $10,000. Meanwhile, Verizon has paid its top five executives almost $350 million in the last five years and pays less than nothing in federal income taxes, two facts that have earned the telecom company its nickname, Verigreedy.

We believe that all workers deserve fair wages, affordable healthcare, time off when they’re sick, and a secure retirement. Please help us deliver our message to Mr. Otis, and urge him to respect workers' rights at Darden and Verizon.

For more information, contact Isaac Gobern at 919-449-4072.