News

Potomac Local Bargaining Report #1

30 Jun, 2011

Local Bargaining Report #1

Thursday June 30, 2011

The Potomac Local Bargaining team met with Verizon today. Discussions centered on proposals Verizon passed across the table in an earlier session. The Union team provided the Company with several data requests concerning their proposals.

After yesterdays company proposals at the Common Issues table, we reiterated once more that we are in this for the long haul. This is not a sprint, it’s a marathon and we let them know that with the strength of our members standing behind us we will be here for as long as it takes to reach a fair agreement.

Verizon has also made it clear at the Local table they are going after our protections as they had at the Regional table yesterday. Here are just a few of their demands on the Local table:

Change the Scope of Work Letter of Understanding to allow VCSI technicians to perform the expanded copper duties in the non FiOS Deployed Areas.
Significantly weaken the grievance procedure.
Change the language concerning termination allowance payments.
Drastically modify the language in Article 28 concerning temporary assignments.
Weaken the arbitration provision of the contract.

These are just a few of the issues we are dealing with at the Potomac Bargaining table. Of course, we have our own agenda and passed a number of the Union bargaining proposals across the table today. We will meet again tomorrow to continue our work toward reaching an agreement that allows the Company to be competitive and protects and improves the contract for our members. After tomorrow’s meeting the Regional and Local tables will be recessed until Monday, July 18th.

Again, Verizon is not a Company facing a financial crisis. They are extremely profitable. This is not a Company coming to its union employees seeking ways to work together to face the challenges of the future. Their proposals seek to destroy our future.

We need to send a very clear message that this is not acceptable, that we will not be passive as they seek to gut our contract. Your Potomac Bargaining Team as well as the bargaining teams from CWA Districts 1 and 13, the IBEW in New York, New England, New Jersey and Pennsylvania stands unified and ready to fight.

We stand unified and ready to fight for your Wages, Benefits and Working Conditions.

We stand unified and ready to fight for the middle class standard of living that you have earned and rightfully deserve to keep.

Preparations are being made for strike votes to be held in all locals. Plans are also being made for a Rally at Verizon Headquarters in New York City at 140 West Street on July 30, 2011. We will supply more details next week but it is time to set aside this date and make plans to attend this Rally. Members from all three Districts from New England to Virginia as well as IBEW members from NY, NE, NJ and Pennsylvania will be attending.

Now more than ever we need to mobilize!

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!