Bargaining Update - New Deadline
08/08/2008 11:05 AM Filed in: Bargaining
Washington,
D.C -- The CWA/IBEW Unified Bargaining Committees
have set a bargaining deadline for completing
contract negotiations with Verizon. That deadline is
Monday, Aug. 11, 12:01 am. At that time, the existing
contract that was extended last weekend will expire.
Strike action then becomes possible if a fair
settlement is not reached.
The strike
date will be set by the two union presidents in
consultation with the bargaining
committees.
The current contract, which covers 65,000 members of the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) was slated to expire at midnight on Saturday, August 3rd. Late this past Saturday night, the unions announced that in light of progress that had been made in bargaining, they had agreed to "stop the clock" on the expiration of the current contract and postpone strike action. Bargainers had reported significant progress at the bargaining table between the two sides.
Negotiations have continued since then, and are continuing at this time, but progress has been slow. Among the critical issues: permanent, quality jobs at Verizon and other job issues, health care and retirement security, a fair wage settlement and others.
The current contract, which covers 65,000 members of the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) was slated to expire at midnight on Saturday, August 3rd. Late this past Saturday night, the unions announced that in light of progress that had been made in bargaining, they had agreed to "stop the clock" on the expiration of the current contract and postpone strike action. Bargainers had reported significant progress at the bargaining table between the two sides.
Negotiations have continued since then, and are continuing at this time, but progress has been slow. Among the critical issues: permanent, quality jobs at Verizon and other job issues, health care and retirement security, a fair wage settlement and others.