Verizon workers represented by the Communications Workers of America in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions and at Verizon Connected Solutions voted last week to ratify a four-year extension of their current contracts, which were set to expire in August 2019. The deal comes amid a wave of worker actions to raise wages, improve working conditions, and hold corporations accountable. "Like the successful teacher strikes this spring, Verizon's willingness to come to the table early and agree to this contract is yet another testament to the power of working people standing together," said CWA. The extensions provide for additional wage increases and enhanced retirement benefits and cover over 34,000 Verizon workers, including call center workers, and central office and field technicians. CWA Local 2108 president Marilyn Irwin called the deal "a testament to the strength, solidarity and sacrifice our members and allies exhibited during our forty-nine day strike in 2016," and CWA District 2-13 VP Ed Mooney said the early negotiations were "an opportunity to make improvements for our members while avoiding the lengthy conflict we experienced two years ago."
photo: CWA members at the June 11 Poor People's Campaign Capitol Hill rally; photo by Chris Garlock
photo: CWA members at the June 11 Poor People's Campaign Capitol Hill rally; photo by Chris Garlock