Thousands of CWA and IBEW members at Verizon have participated in rallies and mobilization activities this week as negotiators work hard to try to reach a contract settlement by this weekend when the current contract, covering 65,000 workers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, expires at 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 3.
As negotiations continue for a new contract at Qwest Communications, CWA members now are voting on whether to authorize a strike if a fair contract isn't reached.
The number of CWAers signing on to the Million Member Mobilization for the Employee Free Choice Act jumped nearly 30 percent since the last week as members are recognizing how the legislation will strengthen bargaining power during negotiations with employers.
At a U.S. House hearing focusing on the impact of the proposed Delta-Northwest Airlines merger on employees, AFA-CWA President Patricia Friend cited concerns over possible future job cuts and noted that Delta workers are especially vulnerable without union representation.
