Union leaders from the IBEW & CWA have agreed to begin early negotiations – again – with Verizon.
The start date for the talks has been set for May 27 in New York & Washington, DC. Bargaining committees from both unions will attend.
Union leaders hope that an accelerated schedule for bargaining could lead to progress on major issues like health care and job security that members are most concerned about.
The backbone of mobilization has been the formation of a well-trained steward's army. Two years ago, both IBEW and CWA began a training program for members to strengthen and expand the steward's network. More than 6,000 members have now been trained on trends affecting workers in the telecom industry and all aspects of workplace mobilization.
The steward's army has been the backbone of all worksite activities like distributing flyers and "practice picketing."
Just as importantly, members of the stewards army have involved tens of thousands of their co-workers to sign Christmas cards, collect proxies, show their solidarity with VZB techs, and help with intervention in deregulation cases or landline sell-offs like FairPoint.
Strong mobilization hasn't been limited to Verizon-East. Verizon-West members know that the outcome in the East will have a huge effect on their future negotiations.
As our elected union representatives go into another round of negotiations, continued membership unity and involvement will be the key to keeping the pressure on management to win a good contract.
Our union negotiators need our support now more than ever!
