Search News
For the Media
For media inquiries, call CWA Communications at 202-434-1168 or email comms@cwa-union.org. To read about CWA Members, Leadership or Industries, visit our About page.
BellSouth Negotiations Begin, Goals Set for Verizon Talks
CWA and BellSouth Corp. opened bargaining June 14 in Atlanta for a new contract covering nearly 48,000 workers. The current agreement expires Aug. 7.
Key issues for CWA include jobs and job security, maintaining quality, affordable health care and improved job conditions.
CWA District 3 Vice President Jimmy Smith opened negotiations by pointing to continuing increases in profits and CEO pay "as an example of what should be extended to all employees."
He reminded management that many of the retirees - who helped make BellSouth successful - were surviving on poverty-level pensions. Health care cost-sharing is not acceptable, he said.
While CWA will work hard to reach an on-time settlement that is fair to all, he said, "We stand ready to negotiate as long as it takes to get one."
At the common interest table, CWA outlined several employment security proposals calling for BellSouth to recognize CWA in all existing and future entities; guarantee no layoffs, downgrades or involuntary transfers for the life of the agreement; and assure that all new work be performed by CWA-represented employees under the core contracts, among other provisions. Noah Savant, assistant to Smith, chairs that table.
Separately, CWA officers from Verizon West locals - formerly GTE operations - met in Dallas, Texas, June 25-26 to discuss bargaining goals as contracts covering 15,000 workers are set to expire between now and the end of 2005. These include Southwest and Southwest Supply, August 2004; Northwest, October 2004, North-Central, January 2005; California, Alabama and Missouri, March 2005; and North Carolina (Monroe), December 2005. Negotiations get under way July 7 for a contract covering 3,200 workers in the Southwest.
Key issues for CWA include jobs and job security, maintaining quality, affordable health care and improved job conditions.
CWA District 3 Vice President Jimmy Smith opened negotiations by pointing to continuing increases in profits and CEO pay "as an example of what should be extended to all employees."
He reminded management that many of the retirees - who helped make BellSouth successful - were surviving on poverty-level pensions. Health care cost-sharing is not acceptable, he said.
While CWA will work hard to reach an on-time settlement that is fair to all, he said, "We stand ready to negotiate as long as it takes to get one."
At the common interest table, CWA outlined several employment security proposals calling for BellSouth to recognize CWA in all existing and future entities; guarantee no layoffs, downgrades or involuntary transfers for the life of the agreement; and assure that all new work be performed by CWA-represented employees under the core contracts, among other provisions. Noah Savant, assistant to Smith, chairs that table.
Separately, CWA officers from Verizon West locals - formerly GTE operations - met in Dallas, Texas, June 25-26 to discuss bargaining goals as contracts covering 15,000 workers are set to expire between now and the end of 2005. These include Southwest and Southwest Supply, August 2004; Northwest, October 2004, North-Central, January 2005; California, Alabama and Missouri, March 2005; and North Carolina (Monroe), December 2005. Negotiations get under way July 7 for a contract covering 3,200 workers in the Southwest.