Bargaining Update

20 Senators Cite Verizon for Failing to Negotiate a Fair Contract

Twenty U.S. Senators are standing with working families and against Verizon's greed, urging the company to negotiate a fair contract covering 29,000 CWA and IBEW members in Verizon East.

The letter, sent to Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam, stresses that, "it's in the best interests of our constituents that Verizon and its unions reach a fair agreement that supports good jobs and ensures that Verizon can move forward in investing in state-of-the-art broadband buildout for our communities."

The senators also declare that, "the wireless retail workers and technicians who have been at the heart of Verizon's success...that has driven the company's impressive profitability of $39 billion over the last three years" deserve the opportunity for improved wages and benefits.

CWA Vice Presidents Dennis Trainor, District 1, and Ed Mooney, District 2-13, thanked the Senators for standing with Verizon's working families and reiterated that, "a company as profitable as Verizon, that is making billions off our hard work, does not need our concessions. We will do whatever it takes to protect our jobs, our retirement security, our families, and our dignity on the job."

Read the letter here.

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Nine Months and Counting

Members of CWA Local 2108 in Beltsville, Md., let Washington, D.C. commuters know that "Verizon has labor pains." The call center workers marked the nine months of tough bargaining with pillow-padded bellies, said Local 2108 President Marilyn Irwin.

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AT&T West Bargaining

CWA workers at AT&T West are mobilizing throughout District 9 as negotiations continue. The contract covering about 16,000 workers expires on Saturday night, April 9.

From top: members of Local 9431 in Green Valley, Calif.; call center workers in Pasadena, members of Local 9505; premise technicians, members of Local 9511 in Escondido; techs from Local 9413 in Pahrump, Nevada.

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Tentative Agreement at Spirit Airlines

AFA-CWA bargainers reached a tentative five-year agreement with Spirit Airlines management covering more than 2,200 Flight Attendants. The agreement, reached with the assistance of the National Mediation Board, provides wage increases, work rule improvements and other gains.

Once approved by Spirit Airlines Flight Attendant leadership, the agreement will be sent to the membership for a ratification vote.

"Spirit Airlines Flight Attendants were committed to achieving an agreement which recognizes our contributions to make our airline profitable and provides long overdue wage increases," said Jorge Buchelli, AFA-CWA President at Spirit Airlines. "We look forward to presenting this tentative agreement to our membership."

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Flight Attendants Picket Across the System for Fair Contract at United

United Flight Attendants from around the world held informational picket lines at airports last week, part of the "Third Thursday" actions that AFA-CWA Flight Attendants hold at United hubs worldwide to press for a fair contract at United.

About 40 AFA-CWA Flight Attendants and supporters picketed at Washington Dulles airport, where AFA-CWA Council 21 President Todd Failla urged travelers to "show solidarity in this fight while in an airport or flying United by thanking the union sisters and brothers who are wearing their red AFA lapel pins."

Negotiations covering 25,000 Flight Attendants at United, Continental and Continental Micronesia are continuing under the auspices of a federal mediator.

Above, AFA-CWA Council 21 President Todd Failla handed out picket signs at Washington Dulles airport's United terminal. Below, AFA-CWA Council 21 Vice President Jill Collins walked the picket line, with colleagues including AFA-CWA Council 12 (Los Angeles) President Dante Harris, left, who joined the action between flights.