Verizon Regional Bargaining Report # 18

The CWA/IBEW bargaining team met with Verizon’s negotiators today, noting that only four days remain until contract expiration. The Unions began with a request for clarification of information previously provided by the Company concerning the cost of prescription coverage. In addition, the Bargaining Team modified one of its proposals for hearing aid coverage.

The Bargaining Team also clarified for the Company its wage proposal for a “substantial” increase. The Union believes 16%, the same amount given to McAdam as an annual increase in 2014 would be substantial over the term of the contract. In light of the Company’s blanket rejection of almost all the Unions’ proposals at the previous session, the Bargaining Team after a second review, went through the Company’s proposals item-by-item and similarly rejected virtually all.

The Union remarked on Executive VP Marc Reed’s letter to employees on July 27, in which he complained that CWA and IBEW were trying to change health benefit arrangements that had been previously negotiated. The Union observed that the Company seemed to be employing a double standard, since it now wanted to go back on its prior agreement to negotiate over future retiree health benefits. The Company was told emphatically that CWA and IBEW considered this to be a strike issue.

All retirees who today enjoy having their healthcare benefits negotiated by your Union should be angry as hell over the Company proposing to eliminate the commitment to negotiate over retiree healthcare. Now is the time for retirees who can’t be disciplined, who can’t be intimidated by management, who do have skin in the game to make some noise. You should be letting the Company know what you think of its plan to take away your collective voice.

The session concluded with both sides stating that they were available to meet and were hopeful of movement at the table. Your negotiators remain committed to resisting Verizon’s concessionary demands and are grateful for the support expressed by so many members.