NEW YORK (8/2/2015) Verizon workers serving Delaware and nearby areas will continue working as negotiations go on past a contract expiration, the company and union officials announced.
The talks with the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers are seeking agreements covering more than 37,000 Wireline employees in nine states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. The contracts expired at midnight Saturday but no strike has been called, the company said.
“We are disappointed that after six weeks of good faith bargaining and a very strong effort by the company, we have been unable to reach new agreements with the unions,” said Marc Reed, Verizon’s chief administrative officer. “Our employees will remain on the job serving the needs of our customers. In the meantime, we’ll continue to meet with union leadership with the goal of reaching agreements that are good for our customers and our employees and put Verizon’s Wireline unit on a path toward success in the years to come.”
Ed Mooney, vice president for CWA District 2-13, which represents Verizon workers from Pennsylvania to Virginia, said, “The company has barely moved off its initial June 22nd proposal that made outrageous demands of Verizon workers. If this company is serious about reaching an agreement, it needs to start bargaining constructively and now. ”
Mooney added, “We’ll strike when we think it is the right time to strike, and that is not tonight.”