Rittenhouse Square protest targets Verizon contract talks

About 50 members of the Communications Workers of America protested in Rittenhouse Square on Thursday over stalled contract talks with Verizon Communications Inc.

The current contract expired last August. The hour-long protest at noon by the union's Local 13000 was timed to coincide with Verizon's annual meeting in Huntsville, Ala., and the local Verizon workers targeted the home of Joseph Neubauer, a Verizon director.

"Progress toward a new contract can only be achieved in engagement at the bargaining table, not union rallies," said Verizon spokesman Lee Gierczynski.

— Bob Fernandez