Archive for the ‘verizon’ tag
Verizon, IBEW and CWA agree to new contract
It looks like a strike has been avoided.
Verizon Communications Inc. and two unions representing 65,000 workers who had threatened to strike within hours agreed Sunday on a new three-year contract that provides 10.5 percent wage increases and changes in retirement benefits.
Verizon talks have progress
Well I know there was a deadline coming up, but now I read that things are actually progressing. Could the strike be avoided?
Negotiations are continuing and we’ve made significant progress toward our goal of a settlement that meets our members’ critical goals and issues. We will update you throughout the course of the day and still have some remaining issues to work through.
That was from eleven thirty this morning. In any negotiation both sides are not going to get everything they want. I do hope that the unions are able to get their most important goals and issues addressed in any agreement that comes out of these talks. Outsourcing I’ve heard, is one of those major themes so it will be interesting to see what happens regarding that issue.
Is Verizon strike closer?
I was just reading the latest updates over at the CWA website on the negotiations with Verizon when I saw this.
The CWA/IBEW Unified Bargaining Committees have set a bargaining deadline for completing contract negotiations with Verizon. That deadline is Monday, Aug. 11, 12:01 am. At that time, the existing contract that was extended last weekend will expire. Strike action then becomes possible if a fair settlement is not reached.
This Monday, if bargaining doesn’t bare fruit by midnight, they would then set a strike date. I would love to see Verizon feel some pain, but obviously the goal is for the unions to get a fair settlement to prevent a strike.
Update: I’ve seen repetitive visits over the past week from GTE to my blog. Looks like they’re keeping close tabs on this situation.
A picket to put pressure on Verizon
It’s not a strike yet as they are still negotiating form what I hear, but this is a good use of direct action.
Verizon Communications Inc. workers plan to picket and rally in New York and New Jersey before their shifts today to pressure the company to stop outsourcing jobs.
Meanwhile, Verizon continues to negotiate with Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. The two unions represent more than 65,000 Verizon workers.
This would be a major strike for the country if it were to happen. It might send a much needed wake up call to America that unions still matter a lot.
Verizon strike comes to Westchester County, NY?
Today I got this email from someone on a Westchester activist listserv I belong to.
Some of you have heard that Verizon will be going on strike. A friend of mine works for them and said that they will begin tomorrow. Some of the reasons for the strike, other than wages and benefits, is that the company outsources. Have any of you wondered why when we call sometimes for help, they have people from other countries answering? As a matter of fact, yesterday, when I called Sprint, I noticed the woman had an accent and asked where is she working from. She said the Philippines. I don’t know if anyone has done anything about this in the past, but this should be an issue that everyone should be behind. The workers will be striking at the Westchester County Center beginning tomorrow morning through the day. I will try to stop by there this week and maybe bring some snack bars and waters, or something like that.
Sadly, this is going to be an ongoing problem for quite some time. Despite claims otherwise it’s not that simple to adjust to outsourcing when people need their jobs here.
