CWA Members Approve Verizon Settlement Overwhelmingly

Members of the Communications Workers of America have overwhelmingly approved their new 3-year contract settlement at Verizon Communications.

CWA members voted by more than 95 percent to ratify the agreement in local-by-local balloting, the union reported. The agreement, reached after a two-and-a-half week strike last month, covers about 72,000 workers in the former Bell Atlantic territory of the company.

Highlights of the settlement include a breakthrough agreement for neutrality and cardcheck recognition to help Verizon Wireless workers unionize, reductions in mandatory overtime and other provisions to reduce stress in customer service and operator call centers, general wage increases of 12 percent over three years as well as performance bonuses and stock options, a 14 percent pension increase, and improvements in health care, family programs and other areas.