Agreement on Verizon Bargaining Reached; Picketlines/Rallies Canceled

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Thanks to labor unity and public support for bargaining rights, striking Verizon workers will return to work on Tuesday with the contract back in force and bargaining restructured, report CWA and IBEW.  All pickets and demonstrations have been canceled, including today’s planned picketing at the Verizon Center in downtown DC.

“Congratulations not only to the 45,000 heroic brothers and sisters at CWA and IBEW who bravely held the line for the American working and middle class, but to every one of you who stepped up in solidarity over the last two weeks,” said Metro Washington Council President Jos Williams. “As the Verizon workers return to bargain the major issues they face, we stand ready, willing and able to walk the line with them again if and when necessary.”

The following is the statement released at 1P today by the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers:

Washington, D.C. – Members of CWA and IBEW at Verizon Communications will return to work on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at which time the contract will be back in force for an indefinite period.
 
We have reached agreement with Verizon on how bargaining will proceed and how it will be restructured. The major issues remain to be discussed, but overall, issues now are focused and narrowed.
 
We appreciate the unity of our members and the support of so many in the greater community. Now we will focus on bargaining fairly and moving forward.
 
CWA and IBEW represent 45,000 workers at Verizon covered by this contract from Virginia to New England.

For Verizon news, go to http://cwa-union.org/verizon