Verizon union to rally as contract nears end
With two days to go before the expiration of labor contracts at Verizon, union workers — including about 1,300 in Western New York — are flexing their collective muscle for the possibility of a strike against the phone company.
Union workers plan rallies at Verizon offices in Buffalo today, at 7 a. m. at 65 Franklin St. and a 4 p. m. at 548 Elmwood Ave.
“All the CWA locals have been put on notice — they’re all set up for strike activity,” said David Palmer, area director of Communications Workers of America in Buffalo.
“Management must know that our issues are strike issues,” said Mary Jo Arcuri, business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2213 in a recorded update to members on Wednesday.
The IBEW and CWA represent about 65,000 Verizon workers from Virginia to Maine whose contracts expire Saturday at midnight. The major sticking points in talks involve job guarantees and health care benefits, according to unions.
In Western New York, the CWA represents about 890 workers who install and maintain equipment. The IBEW counts about 400 members who answer customer service calls.
Talks for a new contract, going on in Washington, D. C., and Rye, N. Y., will continue up to the expiration and perhaps longer, union officials said. Under strike authorization votes taken this month, union leaders can decide whether or not to call a walkout. If they feel an agreement is close, they may continue talks while work goes on under the terms of the expired contract.
What would a strike mean to telephone customers who rely on Verizon services?
As the provider of standard, land-line telephone service to homes and businesses in the Buffalo area, Verizon’s operations touch the daily lives of most area residents.
The company has taken steps to ensure continued service, spokesman John Bonomo said. He refused to elaborate, saying that negotiations with the unions are continuing.
“We do have contingency plans in place, but we certainly hope that we would not have to use them,” Bonomo said.
During previous work stoppages, managers filled in for striking workers.
An 18-day strike in 2000 caused delays in repairs and customer service calls. Normal connection of local and long-distance phone calls was unaffected.
In Western New York, a backlog of repair orders peaked at 2,400 during the strike. System wide, the backlog took about a month to clear after the strike ended.
In 2003, the most recent round of negotiations, work continued under the expired contract while talks continued. A settlement came nearly five weeks after contract expiration, containing raises of 2 percent a year.
Not involved in the current contract talks is Verizon Wireless, the cell phone service that’s related to Verizon Communications.
How likely is a labor walkout? Union officials gave mixed views. Some said that indications are good that the sides can reach agreement by the deadline, or shortly after.
Others noted that Verizon is financially sound, with a 2007 profit of $5.5 billion, enabling labor to stick to its guns.
“It’s not like we’re dealing with a company that’s not making money,” said Mike D’Agostino, president of CWA Local 1115 in Springville.
On Wednesday union officials said major issues remained in dispute. Verizon declined to comment about negotiations.
Unions are resisting proposals to make higher contributions toward health care coverage, and cuts in benefits for retirees, officials said. Labor also wants to halt the erosion of the union work force through outsourcing and subcontracting.
Said Palmer of the CWA, “There’s no sense in having a good union contract if you have no members.”
