Verizon stores in north Washington state vote to unionize

EVERETT, Wash. — Workers at two Verizon retail stores north of Seattle voted to form a union with the Communication Workers of America.

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The near-unanimous vote by workers at the retail outlets in Everett and Lynnwood made them the first unionized Verizon stores nationwide outside of New York, according to The Associated Press.

The workers are planning to bargain for a wage more consistent with rising costs of housing, along with fair scheduling and improved work-life balance, KIRO-TV reported.

Voting officially began on March 25, the CWA stated in a news release. The vote was 11-1, according to the Daily Herald of Everett.

“We showed Verizon that their scare tactics won’t work,” Austin Hitch, a specialist at Verizon, said in a CWA news release. “We know our worth, and it’s time we have a seat at the table and have our voices heard. We hope that our success shows our fellow Verizon Wireless workers across the country that their voice matters, and when you stand united you can do great things.”

The first union with CWA for Verizon workers was formed in 2014 in Brooklyn, New York, KIRO reported.

Verizon did not respond to an email and telephone call from the Daily Herald seeking comment.

According to the AP, Verizon stated it “respects our employees’ rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining … including the right to join or not join labor unions” in a February filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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