It hasn't gotten much coverage, but the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers is likely going on strike at midnight tonight.
The New York Times reports:
Officials with the union, the Communications Workers of America, said Verizon was demanding so many concessions — on health coverage, pensions and other matters — that it would set workers back 50 years.
Verizon executives say far-reaching concessions are needed because of a long-term drop in revenue and profit in its land line telephone business and because of intense competition in television and Internet services.
The Communications Workers and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which represents another 10,000 workers at Verizon, have both threatened to strike at 12:01 a. m. Sunday, when their contracts expire, unless a settlement is reached by then. The strike would involve telephone repair technicians, customer service representatives and cable installers from Massachusetts to Virginia.
In a statement issued at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Candice Johnson, a spokeswoman for the Communications Workers, said negotiations “are not moving forward.”
“Over months of negotiations, there has been no real bargaining by Verizon management,” Ms. Johnson said. “In fact, every major concession demand — more than 100 in all — remains on the table. Even at the 11th hour, with contracts set to expire, Verizon continues to seek to strip away 50 years of contract gains.”
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