Nearly forty thousand Verizon workers walked off the job this morning, in one of the largest strikes to hit the US in recent years. The workers, members of the Communication Workers of America (CWA) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), are fighting aggressive attacks on their compensation, job security, and more — carried out by a corporation that is raking in the profits, but won’t be satisfied until it breaks the power of their unions.

Danny Katch of the Socialist Worker talked to a CWA shop steward from New York City about what’s at stake in this battle and why Verizon workers deserve solidarity.