Union says Verizon’s ‘greed knows no bounds’
WASHINGTON – Some 38,000 Communications Workers of America and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union employees have been working for Verizon Communications without a contract since Aug. 1; despite continued talks between the union and the company, there is currently no sign of a compromise as the two sides remain very far apart.
Richard Young, Verizon spokesman told RCR Wireless News, “Negotiations continue between Verizon and union leaders from the CWA and IBEW. We’ve met with union leadership and their bargaining representatives on several occasions since the contract expired. We have additional meetings scheduled this week in both New York and Philadelphia. Our goal today is the same as it has been from the beginning: to reach a solid agreement that meets the needs of our employees and our customers and one that recognizes the constantly evolving communications marketplace in 2015.”
CWA spokesman Michael Allen contrasted the company’s profits with its perceived treatment of employees.
“This wealthy corporation continues to press its demands for cuts and givebacks, especially in areas of aiding disabled workers and quality jobs. Despite profits last year of $9.6 billion, and profits averaging $1 billion per month for the past 18 months, Verizon is slacking off when it comes to maintaining the copper network that millions in the footprint still rely on, not to mention that it has broken its promises to residents in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and many New York communities to build out FiOS broadband.”
The unions have not ruled out the possibility of a strike. The decision to not walk out was explained in a statement posted to the unions’ Stand Up to Verizon website.
“After considering all of our options, your leadership has decided not to go on strike at midnight tonight, even though we have not yet reached a contract agreement. The two sides remain far apart. Despite $18 billion in profits over the last 18 months, and a quarter of a billion in compensation to its top executives over the last five years, this greedy corporation is still insisting on destroying our job security, forcing us to pay thousands of dollars more for our health care and slashing our retirement security.”
The statement continued: “We are disgusted by Verizon’s attitude at the bargaining table. Their greed knows no bounds. It’s quite possible that Verizon is trying to provoke us into a long strike in order to try to break us. They have spent tens of millions of dollars preparing for a strike, training managers, hiring scabs and contractors, advertising against us on TV and radio. So your leadership has decided that if and when we strike, it will be on our terms, on our timing.”
The negotiations follow months of heated rhetoric from the unions and strike preparation from Verizon, including training additional workers to fill the roles of striking workers and distributing a mobile app to non-union workers that allows them to document bad behavior by striking employees.
