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.
Big Settlement Win for Verizon NC Strikers
Verizon North Carolina Strikers Beat Back Takebacks,
Win Solid Wage and Benefit Gains in New Contract
Ending a 12-week strike at Verizon South in western North Carolina, CWA Local 3673 members ratified a settlement last night that preserves benefits and contract provisions the company tried to take away, increases wages by 12 percent over three years, raises pension by 4%, and provides major gains in health care and other areas. Members will go back to work on Monday August 11.
"These members really hung together in a strike that was all about family issues, not money," said District 3 Vice President Jimmy Smith. "Their sacrifice and solidarity paid off with a fair settlement that they can be proud of," he said. Smith expressed thanks to other Verizon locals and locals in the district that contributed to the special strike relief fund.
The company had tried to take away the workers' emergency family medical leave provision, but that benefit remains in the contract, allowing up to 24 hours of paid leave per year, limited to 8 occurrences, to take family members to and from hospitals when they are admitted.
Short-term disability provisions also were preserved for current employees – another strike issue; new hires will have the same provisions that are standard at the rest of the former GTE units.
Abusive levels of forced overtime were another major issue, and the settlement provides for a joint task force to study overtime levels and make recommendations to remedy the workers' complaints.
Among major gains, the contract now extends the same health care coverage used in the preferred provider network to members in areas where the network is not available. "This is a big issue here in these small towns because a lot of our members would have to travel very long distances to get treatment from a doctor who is part of the network," said Local President Tommy Pool.
The wage package calls for 2 percent at go-down and another 2 percent this October, 4 percent in April of 2004 and 4 percent in April of 2005.
Other highlights include a new hearing aid benefit, a new vision care plan, a boost in dental benefits from the present 50 percent to 80 percent paid, an additional floating holiday, a new $10,000 adoption benefit, and a new pre-retirement pension survivor option to designate a beneficiary other than the spouse.
Tommy Pool joined in thanking other CWA locals for their support, and he noted that the strikers received tremendous support from local merchants and customers. "We were fighting for our families and that's something that everyone understands," he said.
Win Solid Wage and Benefit Gains in New Contract
Ending a 12-week strike at Verizon South in western North Carolina, CWA Local 3673 members ratified a settlement last night that preserves benefits and contract provisions the company tried to take away, increases wages by 12 percent over three years, raises pension by 4%, and provides major gains in health care and other areas. Members will go back to work on Monday August 11.
"These members really hung together in a strike that was all about family issues, not money," said District 3 Vice President Jimmy Smith. "Their sacrifice and solidarity paid off with a fair settlement that they can be proud of," he said. Smith expressed thanks to other Verizon locals and locals in the district that contributed to the special strike relief fund.
The company had tried to take away the workers' emergency family medical leave provision, but that benefit remains in the contract, allowing up to 24 hours of paid leave per year, limited to 8 occurrences, to take family members to and from hospitals when they are admitted.
Short-term disability provisions also were preserved for current employees – another strike issue; new hires will have the same provisions that are standard at the rest of the former GTE units.
Abusive levels of forced overtime were another major issue, and the settlement provides for a joint task force to study overtime levels and make recommendations to remedy the workers' complaints.
Among major gains, the contract now extends the same health care coverage used in the preferred provider network to members in areas where the network is not available. "This is a big issue here in these small towns because a lot of our members would have to travel very long distances to get treatment from a doctor who is part of the network," said Local President Tommy Pool.
The wage package calls for 2 percent at go-down and another 2 percent this October, 4 percent in April of 2004 and 4 percent in April of 2005.
Other highlights include a new hearing aid benefit, a new vision care plan, a boost in dental benefits from the present 50 percent to 80 percent paid, an additional floating holiday, a new $10,000 adoption benefit, and a new pre-retirement pension survivor option to designate a beneficiary other than the spouse.
Tommy Pool joined in thanking other CWA locals for their support, and he noted that the strikers received tremendous support from local merchants and customers. "We were fighting for our families and that's something that everyone understands," he said.