iWon't

Last week, we announced the next stage in the fight for middle-class jobs at Verizon and Verizon Wireless – joining our brothers and sisters at CWA for our nationwide iWon’t Campaign, asking Americans to delay upgrading to the new iPhone on Verizon Wireless until the company stops trying to downgrade middle class jobs.

The iWon’t campaign, which is backed by an impressive coalition including MoveOn.org, USAction, Jobs with Justice, and National People’s Aciton and other groups, will feature advertising, grassroots outreach and leafleting at hundreds of Verizon Wireless stores.

Throughout the CWA / IBEW strike earlier this year, Jobs with Justice stood with hundreds of thousands of Americans who are sick and tired of profitable companies like Verizon and Verizon Wireless showering millions on their CEOs while taking away good jobs.

Now we are asking everyone who cares about the future of the middle class to help us fight back:  Upgrade to the new iPhone on Verizon Wireless only when the Verizon companies stop trying to downgrade their workers and give them a fair contract.

Verizon and Verizon Wireless jump through hoops to avoid paying federal taxes, dole out millions to their top executives, and then have the audacity to cut back and ask their workers to pay the price. We are joining the iWon’t Campaign and asking consumers to get the new iPhone  on Verizon only when Verizon and Verizon Wireless treat their employees with the respect and fairness they deserve.

Our coalition will also work to expose the “Verizon Tax Loopholes” – the tricks and tax dodges Verizon and Verizon Wireless use to pay nothing at all in federal corporate income taxes even as they make billions in profits, pay their top 5 executives hundreds of millions of dollars, and undermine the American Dream of good middle-class jobs.  As Congress considers ways to close the deficit, we will help lead a grassroots campaign calling on lawmakers to force companies like Verizon to pay their fair share in federal taxes and respect workers’ rights.

Why should Verizon and Verizon Wireless – which make billions of dollar a year – pay less in taxes than America’s small businesses and working families?  And why should the American public subsidize Verizon’s attack on the middle class with billions in tax rebates? As Congress considers drastic cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and hundreds of programs that the country depends on, we think Verizon and Verizon Wireless’ tax breaks should get a second look.

Stay tuned for more information about our campaign against Verizon Tax Loopholes.  In the meantime, tell your friends and family to join the iWon’t campaign.