News

Verizon Bargaining 2011: Report # 67

27 Apr, 2012

The CWA/IBEW Mid-Atlantic Regional Bargaining Committee met with the Company this week in Rye, NY. The Company rejected the Union’s March 29th proposal and continues to express no interest in any proposal that would increase current costs to the Company. The Company also responded to the Union’s questions regarding the Company’s March 29th Pension and 401K proposal.

The Company continues to insist on changes to our defined benefit pension plan. Members currently on the payroll would have their pension frozen. Members, who have less than 30 years of service, would be capped at 30 years and would only accrue at 50% going forward. Those members with more than 30 years would be frozen at their current total years of service and would earn nothing going forward. New employees would not be eligible to participate in the defined pension benefit plan.

The Union also addressed concerns regarding the Dependant Verification Audit currently underway for our active and retired members. Members have encountered long waiting times when attempting to speak to call center representatives to resolve issues. The Company has increased support staff to help alleviate this problem.

The committee has recessed until Monday morning at which time the fight for a fair contract will continue.

It is more important than ever that our members continue to mobilize and that EVERY member commit to spending at least 4 hours per week participating in mobilization activities. If you have not gotten involved, it is time to look at how much you can lose. It is time to call your Local or talk to your steward and find out what you can do to help.

Verizon’s Annual Shareholders Meeting is Thursday May 3, 2012 at 10:30 AM at the Von Braun Center, 700 Monroe Street, Huntsville, Alabama. We are still collecting proxies. We are asking all of our members to vote your proxy, sign and date your card and return it to your Local. The Shareholder’s Meeting is a Thursday and there will be a “sea of red” CWA and IBEW members who are also shareholders who will deliver these proxies and a message to that meeting.