Some 38,000 Verizon union workers from Massachusetts to Virginia are threatening to strike at midnight as the countdown looms for their contract to expire.
Both sides reported little or no progress yesterday in talks that started June 22.
The workers in nine states — including 5,000 in Massachusetts — whose contract expires at 11:59 p.m. are service reps, clerical workers, operators, testers and technicians “that build and maintain Verizon’s entire network infrastructure,” said Paul Feeney, spokesman for Boston’s International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2222. “It is inconceivable that Verizon would have a qualified and well-trained workforce capable of making those repairs in a timely manner should there be a work stoppage.”
Verizon, meanwhile, said it has been training “thousands of non-union Verizon employees and outside business partners” in network and customer service functions. “In the event of a work stoppage, Verizon is confident it can continue to maintain its network and systems and serve our customers,” spokesman Phil Santoro said.
Verizon’s initial contract offer included 2 percent wage increases in each of the first two years and a $1,000 lump sum payment in the third year. Union negotiators have responded with counterproposals that are “unrealistic and out-of-touch in today’s marketplace,” Verizon chief administrative officer Marc Reed said in a statement.
But union officials say pension concessions, increased health care contributions for current workers and retirees, and job security are chief sticking points.
“They want the ability to contract out our work and lay off members without any negotiations,” Feeney said. And, he added, “We just don’t feel that a company that’s a multibillion-dollar corporation that reported profits in excess of $4 billion (last quarter) should go after retirees on a fixed income.”
Local 2222 plans a ?10 p.m. candlelight vigil at the Verizon building at ?6 Bowdoin Square in Boston. “That’s when we’ll receive the decision from the bargaining team and then relay to the members whether or not we’re going on strike,” Feeney said.
Some 45,000 Verizon union workers went on strike in 2011 for two weeks before returning to work under prior contract terms. Negotiations then lasted another year.
