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Verizon unions: Get ready to take fight to the street
Unity@Verizon reports that although bargaining is ongoing, most major issues on a new contract remain unresolved and “we may soon be taking the fight to the street. Everyone should be ready.” The union also says security at Verizon buildings and plants has been stepped up.
Both the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers have overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike by their 65,000 members who work for Verizon if a new five-year deal isn’t reached. The contract is set to expire at 11:59 p.m. Saturday, but the unions haven’t set a strike deadline as yet.
Meanwhile, Verizon says it has contingency plans in place in the event of a strike, but says it believes a fair contract can be achieved, adding that rallies and strike authorizations are the norm as contract expirations near. On Monday, Dennis Strigl, president and chief operating officer of the company, said in an earnings report conference call that the parties had been "making good progress."
But Paul Feeney, a spokesman for one of the seven local International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers unions representing about 8,000 Verizon service representatives, technicians, and other employees in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, told the Boston Globe, "The reports are that progress is slow, if at all. There's not much going on at all in negotiations."
The unions say sticking points include health care coverage, benefits for new hires and subcontracting and outsourcing jobs. Also at issue is a battle over efforts to organize workers at a subsidiary, Verizon Business.
“Like anything,” Feeney said, “it always boils down to the major issues, such as job security, healthcare benefits for both our current and retired members, and the future of our work." A strike, he said looked "more and more imminent as the days go on."
The union last walked off the job in 2000. In 2003, negotiations were extended until a contract was reached.
What FierceTelecom readers are saying:
- In support of the CWA & IBEW
- In support of Verizon
For more check out these stories in:
- The Newark Star-Ledger
- Unity@Verizon
- The Boston Globe
- Newsday
Related articles:
Contract witching hour draws nigh Contract report
Countdown for Verizon, unions begins Contract report
CWA, IBEW authorize strike Union report
CWA votes on strike authorization CWA report
Comments
Posted by Anonymous | August 1, 2008 - 6:28pm
I am currently a contract worker with Qwest... I am neither Democrat nor Republican... and I am considered a moderate in my belief systems. I am apalled at CWA for even contemplating a strike during the toughest economic times our nation as a whole has experienced as well as during one of the worst economic turn downs by Qwest which is currently struggling to regain is competative footing in the dwindling telefony market while increasing is ability to service the internet/media/ and wireless market. Qwest stocks are plummeting. Prices across the nation are rising at a rapid rate. I know first level managers with Qwest who have to PAY a share for their health care benefits as well as a deductible. As a contractor.. and the widow of a career Navy man... I have to pay a yearly deductibel for my limited health care as well as a 25 percent copay with a 7,000.00 catastrophic cap.
If you do the asinine thing and strike during this economic time.. you will not only be damaging yourselves (as you will never recoupe the money you lose during the strike which could be relatively long) you will also negatively impact hundreds if not thousands of contract workers who will probably not be able to work on prem.
There are times when looking only to an immediate goal can ultimately destroy it. Unions once did have their place in society... I rarely see the need for them now except to force a company to increase its cots and and decrease its overhead which generally means downsizing... more people out of work and more work REQUIRED by less employees.
There is no logic to this strike which, at this time in our country, seems ill thought out, ill planned and very selfish.
Well, I am selfish too... battling cancer... I can't afford to be out of work on day and I earn a great deal less then a net tech... pay more for my government health care... and do not get overtime.
thank you for letting me vent.
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