January 6, 2006

VIS Contract Bargaining to Resume Monday in New York City

On Friday afternoon, January 6th, District One Vice President Chris Shelton announced that formal bargaining for a new contract between CWA and Verizon Information Services will resume on Monday afternoon in New York City.

"The solidarity of our members and the strength of our unfair labor practice strike and mobilization activities have persuaded management that it's time to get back to the bargaining table," Shelton said.  "We hope that serious bargaining will now produce an agreement that meets the needs of our members to protect their wages and working conditions."

"The solidarity of our members and the strength of our ULP strike and mobilization activities have persuaded management that it's time to get back to the bargaining table."
Shelton cautioned, however, that hard bargaining must still take place in order to reach a contract settlement.  "We must be prepared to continue our fight if we cannot achieve a fair contract at bargaining.  Our members at VIS have stood strong for ten weeks and I know that all of us will continue to do whatever is necessary to achieve what our members need in our next contract."

The initial movement towards resumption of bargaining began with high-level contacts between Shelton, CWA National Union President Larry Cohen and top Verizon officials, including CEO Ivan Seidenberg and Human Resources Director Mark Reed. These contacts were followed by informal exchanges of ideas over the last two weeks between District One Assistant to the Vice President Dennis Trainor and top representatives of Verizon Information Services.

Based on these discussions, CWA believes that there is a solid basis to return to formal bargaining. The VIS and CWA bargaining teams are scheduled to begin meeting Monday afternoon.

Please check the District One website for updates on bargaining next week, and we will send out another Unity@Verizon alert if there are major developments.

Most of all, stay strong on the picket line and in your mobilization campaign! Our unity and determination have brought us to this point, and will carry us to the finish line.   

If talks do break down, watch for information about plans to escalate our unfair labor practice strike and mobilization activities.  And just to get ready, start putting aside your Yellow Pages books and ask your family and friends to do the same.

"We stand shoulder to shoulder with a common cause and goal"

Local 1118 received this message after last week's rally in Albany (read more below):

I just wanted to thank you for your hospitality when we visited you for the rally. Sometimes we lose track of the big picture when the only people we see are the ones that we work with, leading one to believe that it's our struggle alone.

It was gratifying to see that that is not the case. In coming to Albany just like New York, I found that even though we may be separated by miles.... we still stand shoulder to shoulder with a common cause and goal, and in that unity I know that we will win!!

Each of us has and continues to make sacrifices for us all, and that one fact means more to me than any amount of money or incentive a non-feeling company can offer. I know what comes by brothers and sisters in this struggle comes from the heart, and not from a spreadsheet.

Once again on behalf of myself, my family, and the 1122, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to you personally and to the members of the 1118 for making us feel welcome, for the knowledge that we stand together, and the commitment to make through this for the betterment for all of us.

We all look forward to seeing you in January.

Happy Holidays

Respectfully,
Ronald B. Banks
United in Struggle
CWA

Solidarity in Albany Foils the Grinch

A firsthand account of the Grinch's nefarious plot:

Tuesday night, Dec. 20th the VIS Grinch came to Albany to try to steal Christmas from striking VIS workers. But there to meet the Grinch were over 300 Union brothers and sisters from Buffalo, Syracuse, Vestal, and Fishkill, Verizon telco members of Local 1118, members of other unions, New York State Assembly and Senate members, the mayors of Albany and Green Island, and the father of U.S. Representative Mike McNulty.

Speaker after speaker condemed the VIS Grinch and pledged their support to the VIS strikers throughout New York state. We then marched up the drive, chanting "we will not go away" and "we will win" as the frightened scabs no longer peered out through windows.

Fun was had by all that evening, and, by the way, the VIS Grinch did not steal Christmas. Members of Local 1118 not on strike made sure their brothers and sisters had a Merry Christmas. Through their generosity, presents were given to the children and each striking 1118 member received a Christmas ham plus $40 for the fixins.

 

  Speaker after speaker pledged support to the VIS strikers  

Elected Officials Call on VIS to Bargain Fairly

In letters to VIS President Harless and Seidenberg, New York politicians called on Verizon to get back to the bargaining table:

"I am a strong supporter of collective bargaining, both as a way to reduce worker-management conflict, and as a way of achieving fair wages and working conditions for working women and men."

-- New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer

"I am deeply concerned when the irresponsible and possibly illegal behavior of corporate executives leads to protracted strikes such as the one now taking place at Verizon Information Services."

-- NY Assemblyman James Brennan

"I would ... like to see the parties return to the bargaining table. Unsettled contracts tend to drive a wedge between the parties that at times may take years to move beyond."

-- U.S. Representative Sherwood Boehlert

"I urge you in the strongest possible terms to reconsider your position, return to the bargaining table in good faith, and to seek to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement that fairly addresses the concerns of both workers and management."

-- NY Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz

Customers Rally Behind Strikers

Excerpts from letters sent to Seidenberg and VIS president Kathy Harless:

"I am a long-time Verizon customer and am concerned about Verizon's current labor situation.  I have been following this issue closely....

"As this strike continues, I am asking you to not send any scabs to our offices to conduct business; do not send renewal contracts electronically or by mail during this period either.  Rather, I am asking you to settle this dispute immediately!  I, as a customer, as will numerous customers across the state, will commit to doing all I can to help Verizon workers maintain their unity and strength.

"Your failure to recognize the important and essential role employees have in the functioning and service offered by your company has forced your employees to strike.  However, they remain strong, especially with the help and support of Verizon customers like me, and the community at large."

"No one in my entire family will use Verizon because of your unfair labor practices.  We refuse to use your business until you treat your employees like human beings and not throwaways."

"I recently had the opportunity to advertise my business (JAMS, Attica, NY) in the Verizon yellow pages.  I declined and headed to the Talking Phone book.  I would never advertise in your book so long as your employees are on strike.

"As a member of the board of directors of my Local Area Chamber of Commerce, I will spread the news about VIS. Though its probably too late for them to cancel ads in this year's book, depending on how foolish Verizon's management chooses to be, there may be plenty of time for me to spread the word for cancellations in next year's book."

"My family's Verizon mobile contract is coming to an end in a month and a half...their renewal and the renewal of anyone else I talk to stands with the CWA members."

"Maybe each of you should spend a day in a VIS employee's shoes. You might get a new perspective.  You guys make Ebeneezer Scrooge look like a philanthropist."
"It is shameful that Verizon Information Services lacks good faith in bargaining with its employees.  The 300 striking CWA members at VIS deserve fairness and good faith.  As long as you refuse to bargain in good faith with these workers, social and economic justice organizations will stand with them.  We will join their picket lines and offer support until Verizon returns to the bargaining table and settles this dispute."

"I am a UAW member who has attended two rallies to support the CWA members. The 300 strikers at VIS do not stand alone. As long as you refuse to bargain in good faith with these workers, 70,000 CWA and IBEW members at Verizon will stand with them--along with UAW members."

Web links in this issue:

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Fighting for Verizon's Future:
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