Verizon Southwest Bargaining Report #78

With the start of the New Year, we the Union Bargaining Committee thought it was important that you the members hear from us the status of the Labor negotiations. We have been negotiating with the Company for six months to reach a new labor agreement. The Company informed the Union when negotiations opened in July that the Company was seeking MEANINGFUL changes relating to loss of benefits, adding non-paid sick days and work rule flexibility which means added responsibility without additional pay. Unfortunately, despite more than 60 meetings the Company has not yet moved off their SEVERE retrogressive proposals.

In an effort to meet and discuss the Union’s top leadership, Vice President Claude Cummings reached out to the President of Texas for a meeting.  As of today, there has been no response from the Company. 

While the Union is now and has from the beginning been willing to meet and bargain in good faith to narrow the gap on the Company’s major issues that remain open, we are not prepared to settle for a contract that is far less than our brothers and sisters received in the East. We, the Union Committee, would like our members to be informed that there has been information released that paints a rosy picture of the Company proposals but when the entire scope of the full Company package is completely examined it is less than fair.

Watch for activities in the near future that you will be able to participate in. 

In Unity and Solidarity,
Your 2012/2013 Bargaining Committee