Health Care, Contracting on Table at Verizon Southwest

CWA bargainers in Verizon Southwest and Supply Chain negotiations are fighting back against the company's demands on contracting out and excessive mandatory overtime, and are seeking improvements in health care, employment security and wages, reported District 6 Vice President Andy Milburn.

"The company's proposals have not addressed our concerns about contracting out and in fact, they eliminate penalties when Verizon uses contractors to do our jobs," said CWA Representative Donna Bentley. With contracts expiring Aug. 15 (Verizon Southwest) and Aug. 21 (Verizon Supply Chain), the CWA team reminded management that workers have earned an equitable agreement and that CWA was determined to negotiate the contract that members deserved.

CWA bargainers are looking to improve health care for active workers and to make changes in retiree health care to ensure that future and current retirees are protected from skyrocketing costs.

Mandatory forced overtime is a big concern among outside technicians, especially those who install FTTP (fiber to the premise) in addition to their other job responsibilities. These techs are required to work long hours and long days, as many as 13 straight days. The CWA team is seeking restrictions on forced overtime and contracting out, and is seeking other employment security gains.

Local 6171 members have been mobilizing since the start of contract talks, wearing red, marching into work together, holding inside solidarity actions and telling supervisors "we expect a fair contract," said Local 6171 President Mike Simmons.

The contract covering 3,400 workers at Verizon Southwest expires Aug. 15; the Supply Chain contract covering 117 workers expires Aug. 21.