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Verizon Members Fight for Job Security
CWA members at Verizon East were locked in a mobilization fight for jobs and health security as negotiations were continuing at CWA News press time, nearly three weeks after the contract covering 60,000 members expired on Aug. 2.
Verizon management, proclaiming that it had a replacement strike force of 30,000 managers and contractors in place, was demanding the virtual elimination of all job security protections when the contract expired, as well as health benefit premium sharing for both active workers and retirees, givebacks in sickness absence, elimination of the call center "stress package" bargained three years ago, and other concessions.
Union leaders opted for a strategy of deferring a strike while talks continued under auspices of a federal mediator, letting Verizon continue to pay over $1 million a day for its replacement "workforce," and meanwhile rolling out a Fairness at Verizon campaign to enlist tens of thousands of union families and allies to help pressure the company.
Bargaining in tandem with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, representing 15,000 workers, CWA negotiators held the line against Verizon's demand to get rid of the no-layoff language that had been in place for nine years - the basis for a major arbitration win in July that forced Verizon to rehire the more than 3,400 workers it laid off last December.
"We aren't about to let the company fire those people all over again, nor will we give them the right to move our work anywhere they want just to chase cheap labor to fatten their profits at the expense of the workers who have built this business," declared President Morton Bahr.
Besides seeking the right to fire workers at will, Verizon demanded that the present restriction on shifting work out of the region - currently limited to seven-tenths of 1 percent per year - be increased to 8 percent, or 6,000 jobs per year.
The battle over jobs isn't solely centered on the company's takeback agenda - union negotiators also are fighting for new job opportunities for members, including 3,000 DSL tech support jobs and other work that is being contracted out. Verizon's violations of neutrality and cardcheck agreements also are part of the discussion.
At press time, negotiations were taking place both at regional tables in New York City and Washington, D.C., and between top company and union leaders, including Bahr, Executive Vice President Larry Cohen, and Vice Presidents Larry Mancino, Pete Catucci and Vince Maisano along with officials of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service in Washington.
Fairness at Verizon Campaign
With an actual strike deferred for the moment, the threat of a strike is forcing the company to keep paying expenses of out-of-town managers and salaries of outside contractors who might have to step in and try to run the phone network.
Meanwhile, CWA has developed an unprecedented campaign to reach out to millions of union families in the 13-state Verizon East region, along with thousands of other allies and members of the public who are taking a stand against corporate greed.
This electronic support campaign calls for union members, their friends and families, and other supporters, to sign a pledge card indicating they will switch from Verizon local telephone service to AT&T. Union members and supporters can make the pledge online, by going to www.FairnessatVerizon.com (campaign is now over). Cards and fliers also are being distributed throughout Verizon East territory, with special emphasis on the five states - home to 3.5 million union families - where AT&T is a direct competitor to Verizon local service.
The program will be implemented only if bargaining fails to produce a fair contract, CWA said. When necessary, the switch information will be forwarded to AT&T, which will contact supporters about their options.
In other parts of the Verizon East territory, supporters are being asked to drop special service options, such as call-waiting, call-forwarding and other premium services.
The AFL-CIO rolled out its support for the Fairness at Verizon campaign in a telephone news conference with telecommunications reporters on Aug. 13, with AFL-CIO Sec.-Treas. Richard Trumka. Trumka, who heads the Strategic Approaches Committee, said the federation will do everything possible to help CWA and IBEW in the fight for hometown jobs and quality health care. The AFL-CIO effort will build on the federation's framework of national unions, state and local AFL-CIOs and community, religious and student support groups to broaden participation in the electronic campaign, he told reporters.
In the five-state area of New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and Massachusetts alone, there are nearly 4,800 union locals, 11 state AFL-CIOs and state Building Trades Councils, and 115 local AFL-CIOs and local building trades councils.
Another key part of the campaign is gaining public endorsements of support from elected officials on the local, state and national levels. A group of 12 U.S. senators signed a letter to Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg, expressing their concerns about the company's demands to transfer jobs from local communities. Signing on were Sens. Edward Kennedy, Chris Dodd, John D. Rockefeller, John Kerry, Joe Lieberman, Jack Reed, Charles Schumer, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Frank Lautenberg, Jon Corzine, Barbara Mikulski and Joe Biden.
In New York, members of the NYC council and state legislature have been joining pre-work and lunchtime support rallies to deliver the same message.
Among the supporters that have contacted Verizon are Alan Hevesi, New York State comptroller; the Amalgamated Bank; Coalition of Black Trade Unionists; Jewish Labor Committee; United Students Against Sweatshops; and others.
Meanwhile, CWA and IBEW members supported bargaining with hundreds of rallies and actions, sending a clear message to the company.
Among the events:
Across Verizon East territory, members are wearing red on Thursdays and black on Fridays. In District 9, Verizon members are wearing red on Mondays to show their solidarity with the fight for fairness.
Members of CWA Local 13000 and New Jersey CWA and IBEW members have weekly visits planned to leaflet outside the home of Verizon President Larry Babbio, accompanied by lots of union activists and a giant rat. Meanwhile, in addition to lots of rallies, District 13 members in Greensburg, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and other locations are draping offices in red.
District 1 members have been rallying in scores of locations throughout New York, New Jersey and New England, with pre-work and lunchtime meetings attended by community supporters and state and local elected officials.
CWA members throughout District 2 have held actions and rallies, including sites in Baltimore, Annapolis, Salisbury and Landover, Md.; Charleston, W.Va.; Richmond and Falls Church, Va., and other locations.
Verizon management, proclaiming that it had a replacement strike force of 30,000 managers and contractors in place, was demanding the virtual elimination of all job security protections when the contract expired, as well as health benefit premium sharing for both active workers and retirees, givebacks in sickness absence, elimination of the call center "stress package" bargained three years ago, and other concessions.
Union leaders opted for a strategy of deferring a strike while talks continued under auspices of a federal mediator, letting Verizon continue to pay over $1 million a day for its replacement "workforce," and meanwhile rolling out a Fairness at Verizon campaign to enlist tens of thousands of union families and allies to help pressure the company.
Bargaining in tandem with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, representing 15,000 workers, CWA negotiators held the line against Verizon's demand to get rid of the no-layoff language that had been in place for nine years - the basis for a major arbitration win in July that forced Verizon to rehire the more than 3,400 workers it laid off last December.
"We aren't about to let the company fire those people all over again, nor will we give them the right to move our work anywhere they want just to chase cheap labor to fatten their profits at the expense of the workers who have built this business," declared President Morton Bahr.
Besides seeking the right to fire workers at will, Verizon demanded that the present restriction on shifting work out of the region - currently limited to seven-tenths of 1 percent per year - be increased to 8 percent, or 6,000 jobs per year.
The battle over jobs isn't solely centered on the company's takeback agenda - union negotiators also are fighting for new job opportunities for members, including 3,000 DSL tech support jobs and other work that is being contracted out. Verizon's violations of neutrality and cardcheck agreements also are part of the discussion.
At press time, negotiations were taking place both at regional tables in New York City and Washington, D.C., and between top company and union leaders, including Bahr, Executive Vice President Larry Cohen, and Vice Presidents Larry Mancino, Pete Catucci and Vince Maisano along with officials of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service in Washington.
Fairness at Verizon Campaign
With an actual strike deferred for the moment, the threat of a strike is forcing the company to keep paying expenses of out-of-town managers and salaries of outside contractors who might have to step in and try to run the phone network.
Meanwhile, CWA has developed an unprecedented campaign to reach out to millions of union families in the 13-state Verizon East region, along with thousands of other allies and members of the public who are taking a stand against corporate greed.
This electronic support campaign calls for union members, their friends and families, and other supporters, to sign a pledge card indicating they will switch from Verizon local telephone service to AT&T. Union members and supporters can make the pledge online, by going to www.FairnessatVerizon.com (campaign is now over). Cards and fliers also are being distributed throughout Verizon East territory, with special emphasis on the five states - home to 3.5 million union families - where AT&T is a direct competitor to Verizon local service.
The program will be implemented only if bargaining fails to produce a fair contract, CWA said. When necessary, the switch information will be forwarded to AT&T, which will contact supporters about their options.
In other parts of the Verizon East territory, supporters are being asked to drop special service options, such as call-waiting, call-forwarding and other premium services.
The AFL-CIO rolled out its support for the Fairness at Verizon campaign in a telephone news conference with telecommunications reporters on Aug. 13, with AFL-CIO Sec.-Treas. Richard Trumka. Trumka, who heads the Strategic Approaches Committee, said the federation will do everything possible to help CWA and IBEW in the fight for hometown jobs and quality health care. The AFL-CIO effort will build on the federation's framework of national unions, state and local AFL-CIOs and community, religious and student support groups to broaden participation in the electronic campaign, he told reporters.
In the five-state area of New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and Massachusetts alone, there are nearly 4,800 union locals, 11 state AFL-CIOs and state Building Trades Councils, and 115 local AFL-CIOs and local building trades councils.
Another key part of the campaign is gaining public endorsements of support from elected officials on the local, state and national levels. A group of 12 U.S. senators signed a letter to Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg, expressing their concerns about the company's demands to transfer jobs from local communities. Signing on were Sens. Edward Kennedy, Chris Dodd, John D. Rockefeller, John Kerry, Joe Lieberman, Jack Reed, Charles Schumer, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Frank Lautenberg, Jon Corzine, Barbara Mikulski and Joe Biden.
In New York, members of the NYC council and state legislature have been joining pre-work and lunchtime support rallies to deliver the same message.
Among the supporters that have contacted Verizon are Alan Hevesi, New York State comptroller; the Amalgamated Bank; Coalition of Black Trade Unionists; Jewish Labor Committee; United Students Against Sweatshops; and others.
Meanwhile, CWA and IBEW members supported bargaining with hundreds of rallies and actions, sending a clear message to the company.
Among the events: