CWA: Verizon, Show Up for Bargaining in 2011

Washington, D.C. -- Following is a statement by CWA Communications Director Candice Johnson on Verizon's failure to show up for contract talks:

“Verizon workers are waiting for management to demonstrate that it's ready to bargain. In fact, we're looking for Verizon to stop canceling bargaining sessions that have been scheduled.

• Saturday night: session canceled by Verizon
• Sunday morning session: canceled by Verizon
• Sunday afternoon session: canceled by Verizon
• Today: Workers are waiting now to see what, if anything, comes from the session scheduled for later this morning.

Verizon employees have been waiting since June 22 for management to bargain at all. Even at contract expiration, Verizon continued to demand $1 billion in concessions per year. That's $20,000 for every worker. That demand is coming from a $100 billion company, where the top five executives got compensation of $258 million over the past four years.

Verizon's concession demands would strip away the middle class standard of living that workers have gained through bargaining over the past 50 years. Verizon is following the Wisconsin playbook and it's wrong.”

Media Inquiries

Candice Johnson and Chuck Porcari, CWA Communications, 202-434-1168, cjohnson@cwa-union.org and cporcari@cwa-union.org