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Bell Atlantic Strike Helps Win Settlements for GTE/Verizon Workers

Strike threats by units of former GTE workers at Verizon in Kentucky and Indiana have prompted contract settlements with the Communications Workers of America, and progress is also reported in bargaining at another GTE/Verizon company in western North Carolina.

A tentative agreement was reached at 3 p.m. EST today in Kentucky - exactly the hour that those 900 workers had scheduled their walkout, reported CWA Telecommunications Vice President T.O. Moses. Another CWA unit of 900 in Ft. Wayne, Ind. settled two days ago shortly after giving notice of intent to strike.

The fear that the strike by 87,000 Bell Atlantic/Verizon workers would spill over into the former GTE units was a strong factor in spurring management negotiators to finally get serious about reaching settlements, Moses said.

In Kentucky, the employer finally agreed to improved restrictions on subcontracting and also backed away from serious concession demands targeting sickness disability, both major sticking points in those talks. The key issue that unlocked the Indiana settlement was improved retiree health care eligibility - now 100 percent coverage at age 59. The wage packages totaled 10.8 percent over three years provided in semi-annual increases, and other gains also were reported.



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