Bernie Sanders pickets with Verizon workers in New York City

Sen. Bernie Sanders picketing with Verizon workers

(Image credit: Twitter.com/zzelladonatella)

Bernie Sanders keeps his promises. As close to 40,000 Verizon employees, represented by the Communication Workers of America union, lock horns with Verizon in a major contract battle, Sanders has been consistent in his support. Writing Verizon employees last summer before their contract expired, the Vermont senator reportedly said, "I am hopeful you will reach a fair contract. But if you run into roadblocks, as in years past, know that I will be there with you until a fair contract is negotiated."

Making good on his word, Sanders appeared Monday at a Verizon workers picket line in New York City, where he spoke for about 10 minutes. It is quite rare for a presidential candidate to join a worker protest against a major U.S. business; Sanders' campaign told The Huffington Post that they believe he is the first major Democratic candidate to do so since Jesse Jackson in 1988.

Sanders is no stranger to picket lines; last year he walked with workers of telecom company FairPoint Communications, where 1,700 employees were on strike.

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"This is what we should demand of candidates who say they're for working people — that they take a stand and that they're proud to do it," Sanders' adviser Larry Cohen said.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.