Verizon Contract Update

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
Bargaining has continued around the clock since tens of thousands of Verizon workers postponed a strike on Sunday. Progress has been made on some issues but Verizon continues to fight workers’ demands on matters of employment security and work of the future, says a bargaining report posted on the CWA District 2 website. “The bargaining committee recognizes that it makes no sense to achieve good wages and benefits and then lose the jobs that provide them,” says the report. Workers returned to their jobs this week under the terms of the old contract but have continued to mobilize and remain ready to strike if the negotiations do not continue to progress. “Verizon is well aware that failure to reach a fair agreement will result in a strike and they understand the pain we are prepared to inflict.” Donations are still being accepted in preparation for a strike. For more info, contact Kathleen McKirchy, kmckirch@dclabor.org; 202-974-8221.