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CWA Board Authorizes Union President to Set Bell Atlantic Strike Date: Contract Expires Saturday, Au
With just a few days left to resolve the outstanding issues in contract talks between the Communications Workers of America and Bell Atlantic, CWA's Executive Board voted last night to give union President Morton Bahr authority to call a strike if a fair settlement is not reached by midnight on Saturday, August 5.
Last week, 95 percent of voting members at Bell Atlantic overwhelmingly approved the strike authorization, the first step of CWA's three-step procedure for calling a strike. The approval of CWA's 17-member executive board is the second step, with the setting of a strike date by Bahr the final action.
"This will be a very intense week of negotiations, with much yet to accomplish in a very short period of time," said CWA President Morton Bahr.
Employment security is a critical bargaining issue, with CWA calling for access by union members to the new growth jobs being created at Bell Atlantic/Verizon in such areas as wireless, Internet services and DSL. The union also is seeking limitation on the contracting out of employees' jobs.
Customer service workers face extreme levels of job stress, as the volume of their work has increased dramatically, and are regularly subjected to forced overtime, inflexible scheduling and restrictions on days off. Meeting family responsibilities, even dealing with family emergencies is next to impossible, CWA said, making the elimination and resolution of these workplace problems a key bargaining issue.
The union also is seeking fair wage increases and improvements in retirement security.
Bell Atlantic/Verizon is a very successful company, and CWA members have been a big factor in that success, Bahr said. "That's why we are insisting that the workers who built this company and have helped it achieve its current position as the industry leader have the opportunity to share in its success and gain access to the jobs of the future," he said.
CWA members in these states are covered by the Bell Atlantic talks: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New York and New Jersey (CWA District 1 headed by Vice President Larry Mancino); the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia (CWA District 2 headed by Vice President Pete Catucci); and Pennsylvania and Delaware (CWA District 13, headed by Vice President Vince Maisano.)
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Last week, 95 percent of voting members at Bell Atlantic overwhelmingly approved the strike authorization, the first step of CWA's three-step procedure for calling a strike. The approval of CWA's 17-member executive board is the second step, with the setting of a strike date by Bahr the final action.
"This will be a very intense week of negotiations, with much yet to accomplish in a very short period of time," said CWA President Morton Bahr.
Employment security is a critical bargaining issue, with CWA calling for access by union members to the new growth jobs being created at Bell Atlantic/Verizon in such areas as wireless, Internet services and DSL. The union also is seeking limitation on the contracting out of employees' jobs.
Customer service workers face extreme levels of job stress, as the volume of their work has increased dramatically, and are regularly subjected to forced overtime, inflexible scheduling and restrictions on days off. Meeting family responsibilities, even dealing with family emergencies is next to impossible, CWA said, making the elimination and resolution of these workplace problems a key bargaining issue.
The union also is seeking fair wage increases and improvements in retirement security.
Bell Atlantic/Verizon is a very successful company, and CWA members have been a big factor in that success, Bahr said. "That's why we are insisting that the workers who built this company and have helped it achieve its current position as the industry leader have the opportunity to share in its success and gain access to the jobs of the future," he said.
CWA members in these states are covered by the Bell Atlantic talks: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New York and New Jersey (CWA District 1 headed by Vice President Larry Mancino); the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia (CWA District 2 headed by Vice President Pete Catucci); and Pennsylvania and Delaware (CWA District 13, headed by Vice President Vince Maisano.)
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