Verizon Strike Ends in Two States

Aug. 20 -- Verizon Communications and unions representing50,000 workers reached a tentative agreement today on a newthree-year-contract as a two-week strike affecting 25 million phoneusers in the East neared an end.

The agreement was struck with the International Brotherhood ofElectrical Workers and one of two bargaining units for theCommunications Workers of America covering employees in New Yorkand New England.

“I am proud of our members for holding strong during these long and difficult negotiations,” said Myles Calvey, chairman of IBEW System Council T-6, a group of ten local unions representing some 13,000 Verizon workers in five New England states. Calvey’s statement appeared on the union’s website (see web links).

“Through our unity and determination we were able to win a fair agreement that protects our members’ job security and gives nonunion workers an opportunity to join our union,“ Calvey added. ”The importance of creating union jobs in new companies has been resolved, and that was one of our major priorities.”

Some Negotiations Continue

Negotiations with another bargaining unit for the CWA — coveringmore than 35,000 workers in the Middle Atlantic states — continuedthis evening.

Company and union officials expressed optimism that a tentativeaccord there would also be reached tonight. Verizon said itexpected workers to begin returning to their jobs Monday. But theCWA’s president, Morton Bahr, has not called off its strikeanywhere, the union said Sunday night.

The agreement, once ratified by the unions, would replacecontracts that expired Aug. 6. Company officials said it wouldprovide workers a 12 percent increase in wages over the life of thethree-year contract, along with improvements in other benefits andjob security protections.

“The proposed agreement gives Verizon the flexibility we needto thrive in a highly competitive national marketplace,” saidLawrence T. Babbio Jr., vice chairman and president of Verizon.