Verizon Bargaining 2011: Report # 59

The Mid-Atlantic bargaining team returned to the bargaining table in Rye New York this week. We returned awaiting the Company’s response to the wage and health care proposals we presented last week. The Company rejected both of the wage and health care proposals. The Company countered very low wage increases as well as a health care proposal with extremely high cost sharing of premiums for both our active and retired members and diminished benefits. This once again demonstrates to the Union bargaining team that the Company is taking a step back in this bargaining process.

We met with the Company later in the week in order to reject two proposals the Company presented that would lead to an increase in contract labor performing bargaining unit work. At this meeting, we also introduced proposals that would secure bargaining unit work and protect existing members on the payroll.

The Union will be reviewing the Company’s recent counters and will look to formulate counter proposals when we return to the table next week.

We cannot stress enough to the membership that the Company is looking to take away things we have fought so hard for with nothing in return.

The bargaining team needs each and every member to continue to stay involved in all activities and tell this Company that we will fight as long and as hard as we have to in order to get a fair contract for our members.