CWA and Verizon to Resume Early Negotiations

CWA Districts 1, 2 and 13, together with the IBEW, have agreed to resume early negotiations with Verizon, covering the Verizon "East" contract, with a tentative start date of May 27 to begin the talks.

The parties initially engaged in early contract bargaining beginning last November but the talks were suspended earlier this year.  Verizon has continued to agree to limit its bargaining agenda to health care while the unions have an unrestricted agenda and the discussions will cover the ability of members to have access to jobs of the future in the growth areas of the company.

Once again, CWA is bargaining jointly with the IBEW.  The current Verizon "East" contract, covering 55,000 CWA members, expires on August 2, 2008.