Verizon Communications formally requested a meeting with the Communications Workers...
Verizon Communications formally requested a meeting with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in response to a press release the two unions released Thursday (http://xrl.us/bnhke5) asking the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)…
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to step in to assist in labor contract negotiations. The unions were unhappy at the length of time the contract negotiations have taken -- more than a year, they said in their release. Verizon declined the request to proceed to mediation Thursday afternoon. “We have been in contact with the parties,” a FMCS spokesman confirmed, although he said he couldn’t comment further due to the service’s confidentiality agreements. “The Unions’ issuance of a press release tying its suggestion of mediation to distorting the Company’s bargaining position strongly suggests that the proposal was simply one more effort to erect an obstacle to bargaining rather than negotiate an agreement,” wrote Verizon Senior Vice President-Labor Relations Lawrence Marcus in a letter to CWA regional Vice President Chris Shelton late Thursday. “It is extremely disappointing that the unions refused to make themselves available today to receive a proposal from the Company and continue bargaining regarding a number of issues. It is also disconcerting that the North unions [representing employees in New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, a Verizon spokesman clarified] have failed to make any proposals this week although the ball is in your court regarding almost all issues.” Marcus asked Shelton to meet Friday at 10 a.m. so Verizon can “present another comprehensive proposal,” as he wrote in the letter. The unions had alleged “Verizon management continues to insist on drastic cuts in benefits and employment security,” the unions said Thursday. Marcus disagrees with the CWA assessment of Verizon greed and points out that two months ago Verizon “proposed continuing job security protection for the 38,000 associates who are presently covered provided that the Company received some relief relating to movement of work and people,” his letter said. CWA Communications Director Candice Johnson said she didn’t know details of any meetings Friday morning but described “regular bargaining sessions” that haven’t produced results. “Frankly, why wouldn’t Verizon want to try something that could help produce a contract?” Johnson told us. “That’s in everyone’s interest.”