Striking Spectrum Workers Rally in Times Square

On Monday, October 30th union members from all over NYC gathered in Times Square to rally with striking IBEW Local 3 workers.  The Local 3 cable workers have been on strike from Charter/Spectrum Communications since March, protesting the company’s attempts to stop paying into workers’ pension and benefit funds.  Local 3 Business Manager Christopher Erikson opened the program by discussing attacks on labor, and how important it is that we stand up against the corporate greed seeking to break the labor movement.   Other program speakers from labor included CWA President Christopher Shelton, Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York President Gary LaBarbera, Teamsters Joint Council 16 President George Miranda, NYS AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento, and our own NYC CLC President Vinny Alvarez.

“This is a fight for each and every middle class worker,” said President Alvarez. We see a corporate agenda that is not rewarding working people, but is taking back, at every step of the way.  It’s time to do the right thing, and it can begin right now with Charter/Spectrum giving a fair contract to the workers who have made the company what it is today.”

Striking Local 3 member Marvin Billups told attendees about how his union health insurance helped save his young daughter’s life many years ago.  Billups and his co-workers are standing strong against Charter/Spectrum’s threats because they know how hard they have worked for the benefits and pensions they deserve. 

Supportive elected officials NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, NYC Public Advocate Letitia James, NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito also stopped by to show their support for the workers.

Today, The Guardian spotlighted striking Spectrum worker Tanisha Smythe and explained how the Spectrum strike is simply the latest attack by corporations on union power nationwide. Read more here.