Rally To Bring Back Bianca

Happening Now: CWAers rally in Bklyn #bringbackbianca#standup2vz@CWAUnionpic.twitter.com/dyhs3OEgGp

— CWA District 1 (@CWADistrict1) September 10, 2015

Verizon Wireless has fired CWA Local 1109 member Bianca Cunningham from her job at the Retail Store in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.

Bianca tore down management’s wall between unionized Verizon landline and mostly non-union Verizon Wireless - where, out of a workforce of 79,000, 155 workers are unionized. In 2014, Bianca and her coworkers in Brooklyn, NY started a movement for their rights at work, which culminated on May 14, 2014 when workers at all six Brooklyn Verizon Wireless stores voted overwhelmingly to join the Communications Workers of America. Another retail store in Everett, Massachusetts quickly followed suit.

For that the company wanted her gone, but we're not backing down. CWAers, allies, and elected officials rallied outside Bianca's store on September 10th to save her job. Public Advocate Tish James, Assemblymembers Peter Abbate, Rodneyse Bichotte and Bill Colton and Councilmembers Daneek Miller and Mark Treyger spoke out in support of Bianca and the Verizon landline and wireless workers fighting for a fair contract.

"Every member of CWA stands behind Bianca," said CWA District 1 Vice President, Dennis Trainor. We won't let the company get away with this.

CWA members chanted "Bring Back Bianca!" as public Advocate Tish James, joined by VP Trainor and elected officials marched into the Bensonhurst store to demand Bianca be given her job back.

Watch the video:

Bianca and her co-workers are fighting for their first contract, alongside the 39,000 Wireline workers whose contract expired on August 1st. Despite $1 billion a month in profits, Verizon refuses to offer any raises, benefits or improvements to working conditions for the retail store workers.

Click here to sign the petition in support of Bianca and a fair contract at Verizon Wireless.