About 250 of Verizon's 36,000 striking employees protested at its annual shareholder meeting in Albuquerque, N.M. At least 15 were arrested.
Editor's note: Ninety-two percent of shareholders approved the compensation of the company's executive officers at the meeting on Thursday, Verizon said.
Striking Verizon employees have asked that a cap be placed on how much the company's executives are paid.
About 250 of the workers, part of the company's 36,000 striking employees, were protesting at Verizon's annual meeting Thursday in Albuquerque, N.M, according to Reuters. At least 15 were arrested.
Police took them into custody after the protesters spread a large banner on the street to impede traffic, the report said.
Very proud of the professionalism @ABQPOLICE showed with #verizonstrike @CWAUnion members arrested in #ABQ pic.twitter.com/GZV465QB0c
-- Pat Davis (@PatDavisNM) May 5, 2016
While the union owns $1.3 billion in Verizon stock, their resolution for a salary cap isn't likely to generate enough to support to pass, CNN.com said.
Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam made $18 million last year. His pay, along with the compensation of other executives, was to be set at the meeting. Shareholders were also expected to hold an election for 13 board of directors spots.
The strike began April 13 over a dispute involving offshore call-center jobs, job relocations healthcare coverage and pay. Verizon said it last week offered a 7.5 pay increase over the life of the contract, according to the Reuters report. The unions rejected the deal
Though the unions' "Day of Action" includes dozens of protests in New York City as well as in Philadelphia and its suburbs, nothing was planned for New Jersey, according to ActionNetwork.org.
Verizon issued a statement in response to the rallies.
"Our employees need to start asking union leaders why they continue to stage circus-like street rallies rather than engage in meaningful negotiations, spokesman Rich Young said in a statement emailed to NJ Advance Media. "Each day union leaders stage these pointless rallies is another day lost at the bargaining table and another day of lost wages for our employees.
"It's time for union leaders to get serious about bargaining and put the needs of our employees first -- rather than their misguided, personal agendas."
Verizon said 1,300 workers have crossed picket lines and are back on the job, according to CNN.
Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.