Verizon Bargaining Update noon, Wednesday, Aug. 6

Yesterday, the parties continued marathon bargaining throughout the day, ending at 11 p.m. last night. Today, negotiations have resumed.

Is progress being made? Yes. Is it slow going? Also yes. Do we have a plan for success? You bet.  

We have presented Verizon with a unified and united front and strong position on all our critical issues. Now, we're working through some of the most difficult issues in the areas of jobs and employment security for members at our company. Our strength in bargaining has been reinforced by the highly visible – and widely reported to the company – mobilization that continues. Verizon hasn't come around yet, but we're pressing the company on all our critical issues, especially when it comes to jobs.

This bargaining involves serious issues – health care, retirement security, and especially jobs. These negotiations are all about ensuring that our members will be full participants in the future of this company and in this industry, not walled off and excluded from the jobs and future that we have made possible.

There are more than 60 people involved in the bargaining process from our two unions. In addition to the elected bargaining committees, there are experts on health care, pensions, economics, communications and legal issues. Needless to say, the company has many, many more people on its side.

Verizon's rapid shift from copper to fiber – and beyond in the future – makes it clear that we must negotiate a contract that secures the jobs of the future and opportunities for our members, addresses subcontracting, expands bargaining rights for workers and provides for employment security.

We will not be bypassed by the company that we built and helped make so successful. If our efforts to secure a fair agreement that provides for jobs today and for the future are not fully successful at the bargaining table now, we will secure it on the picket line when necessary. There’s no doubt about that. Our goal is to win on these issues and we will.