About 36,000 Verizon workers have gone on strike along the East Coast, from Massachusetts to Virginia, marking one of the biggest U.S. strikes in years. Verizon has sought to cut pensions and ease the outsourcing of work. In New York City, Verizon worker Gail Rodgers spoke out.

Gail Rodgers: “We’re fighting union busting. We’re trying to keep the company from taking back things that we’ve rightfully gained through previous contracts that we fought for, that should be ours—you know, medical benefits, the right to work. … We also have issues with them trying to move our work overseas, which we can’t have that. This is America. Work needs to stay in America for Americans.”