July 8

Verizon Settlement Provides New Union Jobs, Protects Health Care For Active and Retired Workers, Boosts Wages, Pensions for 65,000

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new tentative three-year contract settlement with Verizon achieves union employees’ major goals of promoting union jobs and expanding bargaining rights, providing good health care for both active and retired workers, and increasing wages and pensions for 65,000 workers from Virginia to Maine, the Communications Workers of America and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers reported.

In a breakthrough agreement, Verizon will extend union recognition to 600 former MCI technicians at Verizon Business who have been seeking representation for nearly two years. These workers, who perform the same jobs as the union workforce, have received strong support from CWA and IBEW members in a campaign to “tear down the wall” between union and non-union sectors at Verizon. The agreement also includes new opportunities for union workers to provide customer support and service at Verizon Business.

The tentative settlement also eliminates subcontracting of work in a number of job areas, converts many temporary jobs to permanent and brings additional jobs associated with Verizon’s cutting edge FiOS technology into the union bargaining units. Overall, the settlement should create 2,500 new union jobs.

Verizon and the unions have agreed to meet regularly during the course of the new agreement to review technological and business developments affecting employment, which will allow the company to stay current with business opportunities while also insuring that the unions are able to continue to represent employees as the business environment changes.

The issue of health costs and benefits was a major focus of the talks, as it has been in contract negotiations in virtually every industry. The settlement preserves fully-paid health care premiums for all active and retired employees. Future hires will have a defined contribution formula for retirement health care with the amount of Verizon’s contributions subject to negotiation in each subsequent contract.

In addition, Verizon agreed to work with the unions in a joint effort to achieve meaningful health care reform. The company will provide funding of $2 million per year to the project.

The settlement calls for wage increases totaling 10.87 percent compounded over the three-year contract term. COLA (cost of living adjustment) language remains in the contract.

Pension bands also will be increased by 10.87 percent compounded over the term of the agreement.

The settlement also provides for a streamlined grievance dispute resolution system which will speed up a process that has been taking as long as three years to complete.

“This is a breakthrough agreement in many ways,” said CWA President Larry Cohen. “It creates new union jobs including major growth areas like FiOS, it takes a big step forward on health care and it brings hundreds of Verizon Business employees the union rights they deserve. We applaud management for agreeing to keep the best health coverage in America and for their commitment to work with us for real health care reform. This settlement provides a framework for growth at Verizon and a good standard of living with careers for our members.”

“This agreement is a tribute to the solidarity and activism of IBEW and CWA members working at Verizon,” said IBEW President Ed Hill. “Our members mobilized strong and negotiated hard for a good contract that will benefit workers and their families now and in the future. We congratulate union and company negotiators for finding solid common ground upon which we can build a better Verizon. With this agreement we have met our goals to protect the retirees who helped build this company and have negotiated important provisions that will ensure future jobs for union members.”

CWA represents 50,000 workers at Verizon and IBEW represents another 15,000 in the northeast.

Negotiations are continuing and we've made significant progress toward our goal of a settlement that meets our members' critical goals and issues.

We will update you throughout the course of the day and still have some remaining issues to work through.

Yesterday, the parties continued marathon bargaining throughout the day, ending at 11:00PM. Today, negotiations have resumed.

Is progress being made? Yes. Is it going slow? Also yes. Do we have a plan for success? You bet.

We have presented Verizon with a unified and united front and strong position on all our critical issues. Now, we're working through some of the most difficult issues in the areas of jobs and employment security for members at our company. Our strength in bargaining has been reinforced by the highly visible - and widely reported to the company - mobilization that continues. Verizon hasn't come around yet, but we're pressing the company on all our critical issues, especially when it comes to jobs.

This bargaining involves serious issues - health care, retirement security, and especially jobs. These negotiations are all about ensuring that our members will be full participants in the future of this company and in this industry, not walled off and excluded from the jobs and future that we have made possible.

There are more than 60 people involved in the bargaining process from our two unions. In addition to the elected bargaining committees, there are experts on health care, pensions, economics, communications, and legal issues. Needless to say, the company has many, many more people on its side.

Verizon's rapid shift from copper to fiber - and beyond in the future - makes it clear that we must negotiate a contract that secures the jobs of the future and opportunities for our members, addresses subcontracting, expands bargaining rights for workers, and provides for employment security.

We will not be bypassed by the company that we built and helped make so successful. If our efforts to secure a fair agreement that provides for jobs today and for the future are not fully successful at the bargaining table now, we will secure it on the picket line when necessary. There's no doubt about that. Our goal is to win on these issues and we will.

Negotiations will continue today between CWA/IBEW 2213, IBEW New England and the Company in Rye, New York and Washington DC. The Bargaining Committee met all day yesterday and into the night and progress continues to be made but the pace is slow. The primary issue is jobs and making sure that we protect the jobs of today and the jobs of the future. The clock remains stopped at 11:59 pm August 2nd.

The Bargaining Committee will meet at 9:00AM to review the company's last proposal and is scheduled to meet the company later in the morning.

The Bargaining Committee thanks everyone for all their support and mobilization efforts.

Negotiations continued today between CWA/IBEW 2213, IBEW New England and the Company in Rye, New York. Today's sessions included lengthy discussions on network and COEI work. There was no progress made. The Company again today did not respond to the Union's counter proposal on healthcare. With a little more than 72 hours remaining little time remains to reach agreement.

It is extremely important that we keep the pressure mounting. Mobilization activities continue with several rallies scheduled around the footprint. We will not agree to a contract that does not protect our work, our benefits, our retirement security, and our standard of living.

Stay in touch with your Local coordinators for the latest information on mobilization activities and distribution of picket signs. The bargaining committee appreciates all the support received from the membership to date and urges every member to stand ready to do whatever is necessary to achieve our goals and get the contract our members deserve.

CWA, IBEW 2213 and IBEW New England resumed bargaining with Verizon today in Rye New York, . The two sides continued their discussions concerning jobs of the future and current work. The Unions stressed the importance of this matter being addressed properly in order to reach an overall agreement. The Company has not yet responded on this matter.

The CWA Vice Presidents, Chris Shelton, District 1, Ron Collins, District 2 and Ed Mooney, District 13 along with IBEW officials, Myles Calvey (New England) and John Miller (New Jersey) are meeting in Washington D.C. with high level Verizon management to insure that progress is being made at the Regional tables.

CWA reported today that more than 91% of its Verizon members voted to authorize a strike in balloting conducted over the past week among over 50,000 Verizon members in the Northeast.

Bargaining continued in Rye , New York between CWA/IBEW 2213, IBEW New England and Verizon. The morning session included a discussion on current work and jobs. The Union‘s questioned the Company representatives on work specific to the TRG unit and requested additional information.

During the afternoon and evening session the Company presented a counter proposal on Medical Benefits. Bargaining has recessed until Friday morning when the issue of future and current jobs will be addressed.

The CWA/IBEW 2213 and IBEW New England bargaining committees resumed bargaining in Rye , New York with Verizon. Medical Benefits, Prescription Drugs and Jobs were the issues discussed today. The Company had many questions on the Unions proposal on Medical and Prescriptions and told us that they were planning a counter to our proposal.

The Union stressed that our top priority is our current work as well as jobs of the future and the session ended with the company looking to continue the discussions on jobs at tomorrow sessions.

The CWA/IBEW 2213 and IBEW New England bargaining committees spend the morning preparing a counter proposal on Medical and Prescription Drug Benefits. In the afternoon the Union presented their proposal to the Company. Negotiations were recessed for the day. It is expected the Company will respond when bargaining resumes tomorrow morning.

Bargaining resumed today in Rye , New York between CWA/IBEW 2213 and Verizon bargaining committees. Discussion today centered on the grievance and arbitration procedures. The Unions made it clear to the Company that some changes are necessary in order to shorten the length of the process. Further discussion on the subject will take place. Bargaining has recessed for the day and is scheduled to resume tomorrow.

Bargaining resumed today in Rye, New York between CWA/IBEW 2213 and Verizon. A Union sub committee met with the Company to continue discussing jobs. The discussion focused on FiOS, including the Fiber Solution Center work, the need for an additional Center in New York as well as the working conditions at the current FSC in Syracuse. Bargaining has recessed for the week and is scheduled to resume again on Monday, July 14, 2008.

Results of the Strike Authorization vote will be announced next week. While there are several mobilization activities scheduled for the future, all reports are that Thursday’s worksite practicing picketing was well attended and lively. Stay in touch with your mobilization coordinators for the latest updates on activities. Your support in the field and your message to management is greatly appreciated by your bargaining team.

Negotiations resumed between CWA/IBEW 2213 Regional Bargaining Committees in , New York . Today’s discussion focused on the health care and prescription drug proposals. Yesterday, the bargaining committee met with the Local Presidents and discussed issues relating to the loss of jobs. The Local Presidents provided the bargaining committee with details of the increasing volume of our work being contracted or performed by managers. The bargaining committee also discussed with the Local Presidents the importance of defining the jobs of the future.

The full committee will be meeting with the Company tomorrow morning to discuss the issues of jobs, today’s jobs, as well as the jobs of the future. The parties have agreed to meet in sub committees during the afternoon. Sub committees have been established to address our demands on arbitration and FIOS work.

Negotiations resumed between CWA/IBEW 2213 Regional Bargaining Committees in Rye , New York . Today’s discussion focused on the Company’s proposal on the arbitration and mediation process.

Tomorrow the Bargaining Committee has scheduled a meeting with the CWA Local Presidents. The purpose of this meeting is to update the Presidents on the current state of negotiations as well as have them provide valuable input on the issues of Jobs, the jobs we do today, the jobs of the future and contracting of work.

The CWA/IBEW 2213 and the IBEW New England negotiating committees met with the Company today in Rye , New York . Discussions centered on the health care and prescription drug proposals. The Committees will work on these issues separately tomorrow and are scheduled to meet together again on Monday, July 7, 2008.

The CWA/IBEW 2213 and the IBEW New England negotiating committees met with the Company this afternoon in Rye , New York . The Unions questioned the Company on the counter proposal they presented yesterday. Issues raised included health care and prescription drug benefits. No progress was made. The parties are scheduled to resume talks tomorrow morning.

The CWA/IBEW 2213 and the IBEW New England negotiating committees met with the Company this afternoon in Rye , New York . The Company presented their response to the Unions June 16th comprehensive proposal. The Company proposal was completely unacceptable to the Unions. The Committees recessed and are scheduled to meet again tomorrow morning.

The CWA/IBEW 2213 Regional Bargaining Committee and the New England IBEW team resumed negotiations with Verizon today in Rye , New York . The two Unions presented the Company with a comprehensive proposal.

At the start of the session today, CWA Chief Negotiator Dennis Trainor strongly urged Verizon to join with CWA, other National Unions and Corporations to work for the enactment of a National Health Care Program. This would save Verizon billions of dollars and remove the issue from the bargaining table in the future. Quoting CWA President Larry Cohen, Trainor told the Verizon representatives to “get off our backs and get on our side” in this matter.

In the area of Medical and Prescription Drug benefits the Unions proposal recognizes the need for behavioral changes in the use of generic drugs and mail order prescriptions to ensure the present level of benefits. Other critical issues addressed today by the Unions included:

· Insure that the same Health Benefits will apply to both active employees and retirees

The Unions stressed the need for improvements in wages and job security. The Unions demanded that Verizon live up to their previous commitment that as the Company grows, so does the Union . This ensures that the work of the future is performed by bargaining unit members. Bargaining has recessed until June 30, 2008.

The CWA/IBEW 2213 and the IBEW New England negotiating committees met today in Rye , New York . The Unions reviewed information and continued to prepare a comprehensive counter proposal to Verizon’s proposal on Medical and Prescription Drug Benefits.

The CWA/IBEW 2213 Regional Bargaining Committee worked today preparing a comprehensive counter proposal to Verizon’s on medical and prescription drug benefits.

The committees will meet again early tomorrow to continue this work before meeting with the Company.

The CWA/IBEW 2213 Regional Bargaining Committee spent time this morning working on a counter proposal which will be presented to the Company. Before the proposal can be completed the Unions need additional information that has been requested from the Company.

The parties met this afternoon. The Unions requested clarification from the Company pertaining to Verizon’s health care and prescription drug proposals, as well as on other issues raised by the Unions in earlier bargaining sessions. The Company provided some but not all of the information.

Negotiations have concluded for today and scheduled to resume Wednesday morning.

This morning the CWA/IBEW 2213 Regional Bargaining Committee and the New England IBEW bargaining team resumed negotiations with Verizon in Rye , New York .

Today’s discussions centered exclusively on jobs. A Verizon Marketing representative made a presentation on their newly launched “Expert Care” program, which consists of various services a FiOS or DSL customer may purchase to assist them with the installation and maintenance of both software and hardware. These services are sold by CWA and IBEW members but the work performed either by phone or at the customer premise is done by vendors.

The Unions asked numerous questions regarding these services which began operating in this area last week. The Unions made it very clear that this work is bargaining unit work that should be performed by Union members. Job security regarding this evolution of bargaining unit work is a top priority for your bargaining team.

The CWA/IBEW 2213 Regional Bargaining Committee and the IBEW New England team resumed negotiations with Verizon today in Rye , New York .

The Unions requested that the Company bring a representative from Blue Cross and Blue Shield to discuss the Medical Expense Plan and how they coordinate benefits with Medicare.

During today’s session the Blue Cross and Blue Shield representatives gave a presentation and your bargaining committee had many questions. The representatives also provided examples on how they processed the claims.

The company needed to review some of the questions and will get back to the committee.

Bargaining has adjourned for the day and is scheduled to resume Monday June 9, 2008. On Monday, your bargaining committee will continue discussions concerning jobs and future work. Your committee has made it clear that the jobs of the future in Verizon belong in our bargaining unit and negotiations will focus on these issues on Monday.

The CWA/IBEW 2213 Regional Bargaining Committee and the IBEW New England team resumed negotiations with Verizon today in Rye , New York .

Our bargaining team had previously questioned the Company on the details of their presentation on the Medical and Prescription Drug Benefits for New York and New England and there were a number of questions that were outstanding.

The Company responded to most of those questions today. Their answers resulted in more questions which need to be answered. There are many questions concerning the prescription drug plan that need to be addressed.

The Union caucused late in the day to review the new information that was provided. Bargained has adjourned for the day and is scheduled to resume tomorrow morning at 9 AM.

The afternoon session with the Company centered on the grievance and arbitration process.

The CWA/IBEW 2213 Regional Bargaining Committee resumed negotiations with Verizon today in Rye , New York .

The Union raised critical issues that must be addressed if an agreement is going to be reached. The parties discussed the present state of labor relations and ways to improve on them. Later in the day bargaining unit work was discussed.

The Union ’s committee will be meeting tomorrow morning in caucus prior to resuming full negotiations with the Company.

The CWA/IBEW 2213 Regional Bargaining Committee and the IBEW New England team resumed negotiations with Verizon today in Rye , New York .

The Company provided much of the information which the two Unions requested last week. They gave specific examples as to the impact of their proposal on our members related to Medical and Prescription Drug benefits.

The Union caucused late this afternoon to review the information received today. Bargaining is scheduled to resume tomorrow.