The music of the 802 All Stars kicked off a June 20 rally that brought thousands of union activists to protest union busting at Verizon, the tenth largest corporation in America and the largest telecommunications company. Last summer, 87,000 CWA and IBEW members struck at Verizon and won a historic card-check and neutrality agreement at the company’s fast-growing subsidiaries. This was a key victory for the right to organize.

But before the ink was even dry, Verizon started violating the terms of the agreement. They unleashed an avalanche of anti-union propaganda at Verizon Wireless. And when 500 workers at Verizon Information Services organized, they threatened and intimidated them and lied about the union to block the organizing drive.

AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka and a host of city and state labor leaders addressed the rally, demanding that Verizon live up to its word and respect the right to organize.

Performing with the 802 All Stars were Leo Ball, Bill Crow, Ethan Fein, Jack Gale and drummer Greg Venuto.