CWA wants Verizon's board to help settle contract issues

The Communications Workers of America (CWA), one of Verizon's (NYSE: VZ) wireline division's main labor unions, has asked its board of directors to assist them in resolving the ongoing contract dispute.

Joined by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the CWA wants key Verizon board members, particularly Darden Restaurants CEO Clarence Otis and Banco Popular CEO Richard Carrión, to influence the telco to craft what it says is a "fair contract" for its workers.  

In addition to the IBEW, the CWA members were joined by other labor-related groups including Jobs with Justice, Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC), AFL-CIO and the Change to Win coalition.

"Mr. Otis and Mr. Carrión are each paid $230,000 per year to direct Verizon's business," said CWA Communications Director Candice Johnson in a release about the rally. "It's time for them to step up and make Verizon management recognize the contributions of front line workers who have helped the company become so successful. Leaving the workers' contracts unresolved undermines the workforce, hurts employee morale and creates unnecessary uncertainty for the company."

This rally is the latest move by the CWA in an ongoing dispute with the telco over a new contract. Last August, 45,000 of Verizon's union wireline workers went on strike after the two sides failed to reach an agreement for a new labor contract.  

After the union workers returned to work later that month, the union and management have not been able to come to terms of various issues, including sick time and pension.

For more:
- see the release

Special Report: Verizon strike: Full coverage

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