Verizon Workers To Confront CEO at Investor Conference Thursday

Verizon workers represented by the Communications Workers of America plan to leaflet and confront Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia Conference in New York City Thursday, said a news release from CWA. It said Verizon Wireless illegally fired a union leader Tuesday. A few weeks ago, workers rallied against the company for the "retaliatory firing" of a union leader (see 1509090048). Verizon is committed to meeting with union leaders and engaging in meaningful discussions, a company spokesman said, but union leaders "seem to feel it’s more effective to reach a new contract by holding pointless street rallies, rather than meeting with the company and engaging in productive, issue-oriented negotiations." A new contract isn't going to be reached on the streets of New York, but by coming to the table with a "realistic understanding of how the company is working to make its wireline unit more competitive and successful," he said.