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CWA Members Overwhelmingly Vote Strike Authorization at Bell Atlantic
Members of the Communications Workers of America have overwhelmingly voted to give union leaders authority to call a strike at Bell Atlantic if negotiations between CWA and the telecommunications company fail to reach a fair settlement.
Some 95 percent of voting members approved strike authorization. Negotiations are underway at regional tables in New York and Philadelphia, with the current contract to expire Aug. 5. CWA represents some 72,000 workers at Bell Atlantic "North" (formerly Nynex) and Bell Atlantic "South" operations in 13 states. Bell Atlantic has completed its merger with GTE Corp. to form Verizon, the industry leading company in terms of profits and second biggest in terms of revenue.
CWA members are seeking job security and access for members to the growth areas of the company-wireless, data network integration, Internet and more-as well as restrictions on contracting out. Bell Atlantic's excessive use of contractors is jeopardizing not only the company's reputation for customer service but its move into high speed Internet access.
Elimination and resolution of such workplace problems as excessive stress and forced overtime is another major issue. Workers at call centers, for example, face continuing speedups, and excessive monitoring, and are not given time for the training they need to market Verizon's newest products. Workers also are regularly subjected to forced overtime, restrictions on vacations and days off, and are even denied time off the job for family emergencies. There are simply not enough employees to meet customers' needs for quality service and the company's goal of marketing its services, CWA maintains.
The union also is seeking fair wage increases, improvements in retirement security and other benefits. Verizon is a hugely successful company, with CWA members contributing greatly to that success through their productivity, experience and skill. Productivity of Bell Atlantic employees has grown 10.6 percent in terms of revenue per employee; last year, each employee generated about $32,700 in net profit-the dollars that go to the company after all operating costs have been paid. That's an increase of more than 25 percent in two years, CWA said.
CWA members in these states are covered by the Bell Atlantic talks: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New York and New Jersey (CWA District 1 headed by Vice President Larry Mancino); the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia (CWA District 2 headed by Vice President Pete Catucci); and Pennsylvania and Delaware (CWA District 13, headed by Vice President Vince Maisano.)
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Some 95 percent of voting members approved strike authorization. Negotiations are underway at regional tables in New York and Philadelphia, with the current contract to expire Aug. 5. CWA represents some 72,000 workers at Bell Atlantic "North" (formerly Nynex) and Bell Atlantic "South" operations in 13 states. Bell Atlantic has completed its merger with GTE Corp. to form Verizon, the industry leading company in terms of profits and second biggest in terms of revenue.
CWA members are seeking job security and access for members to the growth areas of the company-wireless, data network integration, Internet and more-as well as restrictions on contracting out. Bell Atlantic's excessive use of contractors is jeopardizing not only the company's reputation for customer service but its move into high speed Internet access.
Elimination and resolution of such workplace problems as excessive stress and forced overtime is another major issue. Workers at call centers, for example, face continuing speedups, and excessive monitoring, and are not given time for the training they need to market Verizon's newest products. Workers also are regularly subjected to forced overtime, restrictions on vacations and days off, and are even denied time off the job for family emergencies. There are simply not enough employees to meet customers' needs for quality service and the company's goal of marketing its services, CWA maintains.
The union also is seeking fair wage increases, improvements in retirement security and other benefits. Verizon is a hugely successful company, with CWA members contributing greatly to that success through their productivity, experience and skill. Productivity of Bell Atlantic employees has grown 10.6 percent in terms of revenue per employee; last year, each employee generated about $32,700 in net profit-the dollars that go to the company after all operating costs have been paid. That's an increase of more than 25 percent in two years, CWA said.
CWA members in these states are covered by the Bell Atlantic talks: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New York and New Jersey (CWA District 1 headed by Vice President Larry Mancino); the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia (CWA District 2 headed by Vice President Pete Catucci); and Pennsylvania and Delaware (CWA District 13, headed by Vice President Vince Maisano.)
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