Verizon workers, represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), launched a strike Wednesday. CWA said workers are picketing in New York City, and across that state, Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and across Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey. Verizon said the company tried to avoid a strike, which was expected (see 1604110029).

Two Pennsylvania state offices supported the Public Utilities Commission’s right to investigate the quality of Verizon’s copper network. In briefs filed Friday to the PUC, the state Office of Consumer Advocate and the PUC Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement said the Verizon probe can move forward despite the telco’s arguments that an administrative law judge set an unlawful procedure for the investigation, which was requested last year by the Communications Workers of America (see 1602230036).

About 40,000 Communications Workers of America (CWA) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) members in eight states and the District of Columbia plan to go on strike against Verizon starting at 6 a.m. Wednesday, they said. Major strikes have become a rarity, with only 12 strikes involving 1,000 or more employees last year, compared with 22 a decade earlier and hundreds annually being common before the 1980s, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. "We have tried everything, and I do mean everything," CWA President Chris Shelton said on a conference call with journalists Monday. "Verizon has forced us there. They have no regard for anybody but themselves." IBEW President Lonnie Stephenson said the union has proposed alternatives to the company's proposed health and retirement benefit changes, but Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam "has refused anything less than his full agenda of cuts." Union officials tied many of their complaints to Verizon's failure to build out its Fios network. "It's greed, just greed, plain and simple," said Ed Mooney, CWA District 2-13 vice president. The union has in the past pointed to Fios plans as an example of the company not living up to obligations (see 1601220013). Verizon has been preparing for more than a year in the event of a strike, with nonunion workers trained to handle job duties from repairs on poles to handling call center inquiries, it said in a statement Monday. “We’ve tried to work with union leaders to reach a deal,” Chief Administrative Officer Marc Reed said. “Verizon has been moving the bargaining process forward, but now union leaders would rather make strike threats than constructively engage at the bargaining table.” Verizon said the company's contract proposal includes a 6.5 percent wage increase over the life of the contract and a 401(k) with company match, along with "structural changes" to its legacy healthcare plans that would bring them in line with what it offers its non-union U.S. workforce. The current contract expired Aug. 1, according to the unions.

About 40,000 Communications Workers of America (CWA) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) members in eight states and the District of Columbia plan to go on strike against Verizon starting at 6 a.m. Wednesday, they said. Major strikes have become a rarity, with only 12 strikes involving 1,000 or more employees last year, compared with 22 a decade earlier and hundreds annually being common before the 1980s, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. "We have tried everything, and I do mean everything," CWA President Chris Shelton said on a conference call with journalists Monday. "Verizon has forced us there. They have no regard for anybody but themselves." IBEW President Lonnie Stephenson said the union has proposed alternatives to the company's proposed health and retirement benefit changes, but Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam "has refused anything less than his full agenda of cuts." Union officials tied many of their complaints to Verizon's failure to build out its Fios network. "It's greed, just greed, plain and simple," said Ed Mooney, CWA District 2-13 vice president. The union has in the past pointed to Fios plans as an example of the company not living up to obligations (see 1601220013). Verizon has been preparing for more than a year in the event of a strike, with nonunion workers trained to handle job duties from repairs on poles to handling call center inquiries, it said in a statement Monday. “We’ve tried to work with union leaders to reach a deal,” Chief Administrative Officer Marc Reed said. “Verizon has been moving the bargaining process forward, but now union leaders would rather make strike threats than constructively engage at the bargaining table.” Verizon said the company's contract proposal includes a 6.5 percent wage increase over the life of the contract and a 401(k) with company match, along with "structural changes" to its legacy healthcare plans that would bring them in line with what it offers its non-union U.S. workforce. The current contract expired Aug. 1, according to the unions.

The FCC should act to reduce workers' RF risks from wireless antennas, said the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in a letter to Chairman Tom Wheeler posted Wednesday in docket 13-84. “I write to urge you to promulgate a rule that would require stronger RF monitoring and safety regulations that would protect all workers not just those employed in the telecommunications industry,” said IBEW International President Lonnie Stephenson. He noted congressional concerns about the potential for workers to be overexposed to RF emissions from wireless transmission sites. He said employers are rarely informed about the location of RF antennas, which are often not recognizable because they're camouflaged or hidden. “Our understanding is that the FCC does plan to address RF exposure through a proposed rule,” he said. “The IBEW hopes that the FCC's proposal will protect all personnel, especially our members, with the same level of safety enjoyed by the wireless industry's workforce. An updated RF regulation could go a long way to prevent unnecessary health risks associated with RF over-exposure.”

Frontier Communications signed agreements with the California and Florida chapters of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) ahead of the company's pending buy of Verizon's wireline services in California, Florida and Texas (see 1509030063), the union and telco said in news releases Friday. In its extended collective bargaining agreement with IBEW in California, Frontier agreed to add 25 union jobs in the state and grant 100 shares of its stock to all transferring employees, said the release. IBEW represents about 200 Verizon workers in California, it said. In Florida, Frontier agreed to similar conditions as the IBEW deal in California, but said it will add "at least 100 new union jobs" in the state. IBEW said it represents about 2,700 Verizon workers in Florida. In both states, Frontier agreed to invest in additional employee training and to provide competitive wage increases. There are no IBEW-represented employees in Texas transitioning to Frontier as a part of its pending transaction with Verizon, a Frontier spokesman told us.

Thousands of Verizon workers and supporters rallied at more 50 Verizon locations Thursday, urging the company to negotiate a fair contract, said a news release from the Communications Workers of America. Verizon and CWA, along with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), have hit a stalemate in bargaining for a new contract (see 1508070029). Verizon continues to insist on outsourcing more jobs, increasing healthcare costs by thousands of dollars per person and slashing retirement security, CWA said. “We’re ready to bargain. But despite one billion a month in profits, Verizon still insists on everything from eliminating job security to taking away benefits from workers injured on the job,” said Dennis Trainor, vice president of CWA District One. Verizon is working to reach an agreement that's fair to employees, good for customers and positions its landline unit well, said a company spokesman. “We respect the rights of our employees to hold rallies, but we truly believe the best way to achieve a new contract is not on the street rallying, but at the negotiating table in serious and meaningful bargaining," he said. "We’ve had discussions with union leaders from both the CWA and IBEW this week and we stand ready to meet with them again.”

Contract negotiations heated up between Verizon and the Communications Workers of America in the Northeast, but workers in some Southern states were assured their contracts will stay the same once Frontier Communications acquires some wireline business from Verizon. Frontier Communications and the CWA District 6 signed an agreement extending workers’ contracts for two years, CWA spokeswoman Candice Johnson said.

The Communications Workers of America launched ads slamming Verizon’s alleged failure to develop FiOS broadband. The ads were released after rallies Saturday to reject Verizon’s demands to eliminate job security, slash pensions and increase healthcare costs, said CWA. To counter the negative press about the FiOS rollout and contract negotiations, Verizon has been running ads touting the company as a great place to work. A Verizon spokesman said union leaders are “flat-out wrong” in their criticism of the FiOS rollout.

The Communications Workers of America launched ads slamming Verizon’s alleged failure to develop FiOS broadband. The ads were released after rallies Saturday to reject Verizon’s demands to eliminate job security, slash pensions and increase healthcare costs, said CWA. To counter the negative press about the FiOS rollout and contract negotiations, Verizon has been running ads touting the company as a great place to work. A Verizon spokesman said union leaders are “flat-out wrong” in their criticism of the FiOS rollout.