Verizon Bargaining 2011: Report # 3

There were no formal meetings today. CWA Districts 2 & 13 along with IBEW Local 827 & 1944 spent the day reviewing the health care proposal Verizon presented yesterday.

At the Regional table yesterday the company gave us a proposal on Health Benefits. Verizon management had made it clear in their opening remarks on Wednesday that their goal in this round of bargaining was to erode our standard of living and the many hard fought for gains we have made through our more than sixty years of contract negotiations.

What the Company proposed yesterday to replace the existing plans with two inferior plans and to vastly increase deductibles, out of pocket maximums and to add employee contributions. This proposal would also add considerable cost to retirees by implementing this plan. Retirees would begin paying annual contributions as well as paying more for their benefits with higher deductibles and higher out of pocket maximums.

The committee spent the day discussing these proposed plans and will evaluate the plans over the weekend. The Company seems intent on making the plans so expensive that no one will be able to afford to use them.

We have told the company that we are prepared to work with them to help them cut cost with the Health Benefits but we are not prepared to shift the cost of those benefits to our members. We fought too hard for these plans, these benefits and our members and their employees deserve the best health care coverage from a company that is extremely profitable.

We have recessed for the weekend and will reconvene with the Regional Bargaining Committee on Tuesday.

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