13-Week Strike Ends with Gains at VIS

Verizon Information Services workers in New York ratified a new contract that provides big improvements in compensation, maintains affordable health care and retirement security and improves grievance and arbitration procedures, among other gains.

Members of CWA Locals 1105, 1118 and 1122 approved the agreement by a greater than 2 to 1 margin and will return to work on Feb. 6, ending a 13-week strike.

The contract is effective from Feb. 5, 2006 to Oct. 4, 2008.

Among the highlights:

• For non-sales workers, the agreement provides for a 9.5 percent wage increase over the contract term, plus performance bonus payouts. Employees earning above the top rate will receive lump sum payments.
  
• For sales employees, the contract establishes a greatly improved pay plan with new earnings assurances and other changes.
  
• The current level of benefits will be continued under the company medical and dental plans, with increases in employee contributions capped.

More details are available at ga.cwa-union.org/verizon.