New Verizon Agreement Brings Positive Gains to Workers

Verizon employees will see strong wage gains and boosts to retirement benefits under a new tentative agreement reached with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Communications Workers of America, say IBEW leaders.

“This contract represents a tremendous response and a great collaboration between the IBEW, CWA, and Verizon,” said Myles Calvey, chairman of IBEW System Council T-6, representing 5,600 Verizon employees at 8 local unions across New England.

“Coming off the 8-week strike of just two years ago, I’m happy each side understood how important it was that we put divisive issues behind us so that we could focus together on the customers and the competition.”

The new agreement would extend the current collective bargaining agreement, which covers more than 34,000 workers, to August 2023 and includes an 11.2 percent wage increase over the next four years.

The existing contract was ratified in 2016 after a 49-day strike.

“The lines of communication have improved after two strikes that hurt the company and the union. This new contract is a win for both sides,” said Bob Speer, business manager of IBEW Local 827, which represents approximately 4,000 Verizon employees in New Jersey.

“We were able to stick to the important issues of wages, medical benefits and the duration of the contract, and I’m happy to bring it to our members, where I’m confident it will be ratified.”

The agreement will now be sent to IBEW and CWA members for ratification.

“I’m proud of our IBEW members at Verizon, who stuck together and hammered out a strong agreement that only raises standards for telecommunications workers,” said IBEW International President Lonnie R. Stephenson. “I hope it represents a new positive chapter in our relationship with Verizon, one based on collaboration, not confrontation”