Verizon Protesters Invade New York City

Photo contributors: Paige Glovinsky

When my friend Paige told me that there was a major strike happening in Midtown Manhattan today, I was there in a New York Minute.  Thirty minutes and one subway ride later, as I climbed the steps of the train platform at Herald Square, I was greeted by a sea of red t-shirt clad protestors.  Right there in the middle of the sidewalk.

"What's going on?" was the first question that fluttered through my mind.  The protestors were employees of Verizon's Communication's landline division; who were expressing their extreme frustrations in Verizon's decision to lower their benefits.  Not entirely surprising since the landline phone has all but been replaced by cell phones or other wireless devices.

Photo Contributor: Paige Glovinsky

The company-wide protest does come as a surprise considering the current financial situation.  Still, about 45,000 unionized Verizon workers have rallied not just in New York City, but also Boston, Washington DC, and Roanoke.  The protest is also costing the company millions in lost revenues as they struggle to find non-unionized workers to replace strikers on the field.

The result for NYC?  Many businesses that still rely on landlines for communication have been hindered as a result of slow repair response.

It's going to be interesting how this strike will end.  The communications industry has been dominated by  wireless methods of communications that landlines are almost frowned upon.  Interestingly enough, the last time such a strike took place was when radio network workers protested against their wages.  That battle ended with the country turning to the "new television" for entertainment, thus solidifying the end of the age of radio.

Photo Contributor: Paige Glovinsky

These are early days of course, with the protests having just started on Sunday. I suppose that until Verizon settles in negotiations and union workers are happy, I will have the privilege witnessing possibly the end of an industry.