Sen. Bernard Sanders joined with thousands of Verizon employees Wednesday to call for better wages and worker protections, and his Democratic presidential primary opponent, Hillary Clinton, said the company is actively trying to outsource jobs.
Mr. Sanders addressed picketing workers Wednesday morning in Brooklyn and said they’re making a tough but necessary decision.
“I know what a difficult decision it is to go out on a strike, and I know your families are going to pay a price for going out on a strike,” the Vermont senator said, according to NBC New York. “But you have chosen to stand up for dignity, for justice and to take out an enormously powerful special interest.”
Nearly 40,000 Verizon workers went on strike this week after negotiations with the company broke down. The employees say they’re fighting for better wages and protections against Verizon’s attempt to ship jobs overseas.
Verizon maintains it wants to renegotiate health care contract provisions, among other things.
As Mr. Sanders met with the workers, Mrs. Clinton released her own statement and said Verizon must step up to the plate and reopen negotiations with its employees.
“We rely on these men and women as part of the communications that keeps businesses and our economy moving. Verizon should do the right thing and return to negotiations,” she said.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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