Union protests continue as Verizon cuts health coverage

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ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - For the past month, about 38,000 Verizon workers have gone on strike. Union workers say because they've been on strike, their health benefits have been taken away.

In Southwest Virginia, Verizon workers continue to strike, holding signs in front of many locations. Union workers say that Verizon's decision to take away health benefits is an unnecessary blow.

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"They didn't have to do it, I think it was a scare tactic," said Sandy Hoback, a Verizon protester.

Hoback has worked for Verizon for almost two decades as a 411 operator. She says health benefits are vital for her life.

"I have to have it i'm on dialysis to live," said Hoback. "It's very expensive, my medicine is very expensive."

One of her treatments costs about $350 each day. As a member of the Communication Workers of America labor union, her health expenses are covered -- as it is for all the other roughly 400 Verizon strikers. According to Chuck Simpson, the president of chapter 2204 of the Communication Workers of America, this coverage is why strikers aren't returning to work.

"The union has got our back on this, and that's the reason people aren't going back across the picket lines, because they know they got to stand together now more than ever," said Simpson.

Simpson says there is a defense fund which pays for health care costs to protect striking workers. He says the workers will stay on strike because of jobs going overseas and outsourcing.

"This is the fight for the middle class, to keep good jobs in this area to keep good jobs on the east coast," said Simpson.

Local union workers hope to have a rally within in the next coming days to talk about several issues like healthcare.

Raymond McConville, a Verizon spokesman, said, "The ball is in the union's court to end this strike and come to the table with constructive negotiations."