WASHINGTON-A federal arbitrator has denied Verizon Wireless’ effort to block organized labor from running ads critical of the No. 1 mobile-phone carrier and holding public demonstrations in front of its stores to air grievances.
The Communications Workers of America, which represents 51 cell site workers and switch technicians in lower Manhattan, is in a heated dispute over a new contract. The old contract expired Aug. 1. CWA wants better job security, wages and benefits for union members.
The two sides are also fighting over a neutrality agreement in effect until next year allowing Verizon Wireless workers to unionize without interference from management.
At the same, parent company, Verizon Communications, is in negotiations with the CWA and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers over a new contract covering 78,000 wireline workers. It is unclear whether the Verizon Wireless-CWA row will derail Verizon landline contract talks, which have been characterized as going well.
Meantime, the war of words continues today even as wireless contract talks resume in New Jersey.
CWA and Verizon Wireless had ads in today’s Washington Post on the contract controversy.
CWA accused Verizon Wireless of union busting. “Verizon Wireless denying worker rights is just plain wrong.”
Verizon Wireless boasted “America’s best wireless network is also America’s best telecommunications employer.”
Jim Gerace, a Verizon Wireless spokesman, said management offered union workers short-term incentives otherwise available to other workers in the latest contract offer. But the proffer drew a chilly response from organized labor.
“It did not represent a new proposal. It represented a slap in the face,” said Bob Master, legislative and political director of CWA District 1. “It [contract negotiations] are not progressing well.”
CWA President Morton Bahr and union supporters were set to hold a rally at noon in front of a Verizon Wireless store here just blocks away from the White House.
Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean is joining union members at a separate rally at a Verizon Wireless store in Burlington, Vt.
