Verizon Regional Bargaining Report # 33

The Regional Committee met with the Company today. The Company opened the meeting clarifying its proposal on the list of Centers. The Company’s intent is not to close the centers but only to identify centers where they would pay an additional $5,000 in home relocation benefits to employees transferred either within or to a different bargaining unit. The Union responded that the Company has previously stated they did not have a plan regarding the centers. The Union further reminded the company of two other demands that would allow them to one, force transfer employees up to 60 miles without paying for a home relocation, and two, a proposal to eliminate job security language that currently prohibits forced transfers causing a home relocation. The Company proceeded to clarify the Union’s information request from early August regarding the Centers. The Company proceeded to reject two proposals the IBEW had passed on Dental and ACCLS. Finally, the Company confirmed the status of proposals currently on the table. At the end of the discussion the Union still wonders why the Company even requested to meet today.

The Union took the opportunity to acknowledge Verizon’s ad in the Washington Post this morning. We advised them that some information was missing from the ad. They forgot to mention these benefits and compensation are a result of CWA and IBEW negotiating these benefits for our members from the profits members have made for Verizon. We acknowledged Verizon may write the check but in no way do they do it voluntarily. If they did, we would have had a contract by now.

The Union told Verizon our members are insulted Verizon would receive recognition from Working Mother – as overtime has become business as usual across Mid Atlantic – and how members are being forced to work the holiday this Monday. The same was addressed for Military Times. We’d bet Military Times doesn’t understand Extended Military Leave is available if you have 6 or more months of service or that Verizon forces technicians to work on Veterans Day. Regarding the Diversity recognition we reminded Verizon how they treat Martin Luther King’s birthday.

The meeting ended with the Union offering to meet on Monday – Labor Day to continue bargaining however the Company is not available to meet until Tuesday.

As of today the Company continues to demand:

• Elimination of Job Security

• Thousands of dollars in increased health care costs to actives and retirees

• Forcing you to choose between a Defined Benefit pension that will be frozen at 30 years, or an enhanced 401(k) plan

• Elimination of Accident Disability

• Eliminate Double Time Pay

• Eliminate all caps on Overtime

• Limit Sickness and Accident Disability Benefits

• Elimination COLA

• Increased Contracting

Your Union Bargaining team is working hard and is committed to finding ways to address both the concerns of the Company and the needs of our members in this round of negotiations. The Company continues to have only one goal to lower the costs of the business at our member’s expense. Their agenda continues to include retrogressive demands across virtually every area of our contracts from job security to pensions and work rules. All members should continue to mobilize with your Locals. Again, your Bargaining Committee hopes you can join in Labor Day events with other labor organizations.