Verizon, 2 unions agree on new 3-year contact

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By RICHARD PYLE

NEW YORK (AP) - Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) (VZ) and two unions representing 65,000 workers who had threatened to strike within hours agreed Sunday on a new three-year contract that provides 10.5 percent wage increases and changes in retirement benefits.

The pact, which must be ratified by union members, was hailed as a "breakthrough agreement in many ways" by Communications Workers of America President Larry Cohen.

The deal "provides a framework for growth at Verizon and a good standard of living with careers for our members," Cohen said.

It also extends union recognition to 600 former MCI technicians who had sought it since joining Verizon two years ago, the union said. Verizon said another 900 temporary employees would be regularized.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20080810/D92FMPJ80.html

[Hestia]

1. My DH & CWA have been watching this contract closely - the same

people will be negotiating AT&T's contract in April. Which we could get more details of the contract, but since the members haven't even scheduled a vote date, we'll just have to wait. Did Verizon's office personnel, who have been trying to unionize, get a contract too?

[louis c]

2. I'm very happy for my brothers

I represent IBEW Local 123 in Boston (we are not connected to Verizon workers). I was at the July 31 rally at Post Office Square.

Congratulations to my good friends Myles Calvey and Gerry Leary from IBEW Local 2222.

[JustAnotherGen]

3. Good

Now maybe when I leave HQ tomorrow night - I won't get called a 'rat'. Yes - that's what they called me as they were out there picketing on Friday night. A rat. VZW and Landlines - we're all in the same building.

I felt like saying - "Fuck you. You do TWO calls a day at peoples homes dropping in FIOS. You have no idea what it's like to put in a 75-80 hour work week. You wouldn't know that week if it came up and punched you in the nose."

Now that this is over - hopefully we can all get back to work. Well the Wireless people will.

The landline people are notorious for coming in at 9:00, going down to the cafe for half an hour, doing a few emails, going down to lunch for an hour, working out, doing a few more emails and leaving at 4:30. That's from the Execs right on down the line.


Our companies need to split. It's frustrating to watch them all get away with murder like that. Either that, or they need to get in line with our work ethic.

[uppityperson]

4. good, k&r for uions and workers

[DemoTex]

5. Good news from the labor front (for a change). Congrats!

Captain DemoTex - Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) AFL-CIO