Verizon Regional Bargaining Report # 36

The CWA Mid-Atlantic Bargaining Committee met with the company today in Philadelphia. The company passed a modified proposal on Corporate Profit Sharing and attempted to justify their position on changes in the tuition assistance program, which would completely exclude or limit dozens of areas of study. The Union will prepare an appropriate response after reviewing information provided.

Over the past two weeks, the Union has met informally with the company on several occasions in an attempt to find some common ground to get to a fair and equitable agreement. While some of these discussions have been meaningful and somewhat productive, the Company reached out to Local 13000 to see if they would allow technicians to be loaned in from other states to assist with the backlog of work. Local 13000 made it clear that there is no interest in discussing loans unless the Company returns the 44 laid off technicians in PA.

Mobilization efforts throughout the Mid-Atlantic footprint are having a positive impact. Legislators are now pressuring Verizon, including 14 Mayors representing over 12 million subscribers in the Verizon footprint sent a personal letter to Lowell McAdam chastising him for breaking promises to bring high-speed broadband services to their communities. Make sure you are doing your part to keep the pressure on!!

Bargaining is scheduled to resume tomorrow.