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Sunday, May 01, 2016

Verizon Offers Union its 'Last, Best, and Final Offer'

In a statement released Thursday, Verizon said that it had met with union leaders and presented them with a contract after more than 10 months of negotiation.

The news comes more than two weeks after 36,000 workers went on strike -- the largest since 2011.

According to Verizon, the proposal includes a 7.5% wage increase and protection from layoffs.

The plan stipulates that the layoff protection is guaranteed so long as Verizon gets more control to manage and deploy workers. This would include "voluntary retirement incentive offers and other workforce flexibility changes."

It also features increased healthcare contributions from the company and will continue to provide workers with a 401K company match and a pension plan.

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29 comments:

Anonymous said...

They want the flexibility to abuse workers like other big companies do.

David C. said...

[B]ut the CWA said in a statement that workers will "remain on strike and are standing strong on the picket lines."

Come on you guys, suck it up and get back to work. Quit being a bunch of spoiled greedy brats. You pick at the managers and CEO's for their greedy, yet you need to look at yourselves in the mirror. If you don't like it, leave...but you probably won't.

Anonymous said...

Dumb move good luck with your view career choice. I hope you were frugal and saved for this storm headed your way

Anonymous said...

My final offer would be get back to work, or, here is 36000 pink slips. What a bunch of greedy bastards. I would love their job!

Anonymous said...

Striking union members should look up the term "impasse". Once an impasse is reached, the employer has the right to implement the term of their best last and final offer.

Anonymous said...

Jealous

Anonymous said...

216 was just thinking the same thing. When so many don't have jobs and they are striking and throwing a temper tantrum which is extortion. Just idiots.

Anonymous said...

Abuse workers? You mean do their jobs and what's asked for the pay agreed. Sick of this. Go back to work!

Concerned Retiree said...

That is the Unions for you. They do the same with the Auto workers. Why do you think a $35,000 truck is selling for $70,000 or a $15,000 vehicle is selling for $35.000+.

Anonymous said...

What exactly do you think is "greedy" about wanting to keep the same compensation package we already have, no more and no less? Are you greedy becaus you expect your paycheck, rate of pay and deductions to be the same next week as last week?

Anonymous said...

You'd love our jobs, at the pay and benefits we have. So do we.

You wouldn't love it so much after a net pay cut, slashed benefits, the threat of outsourcing around the corner, pension benefits cuts, and being subject to be told to pack up and report a thousand miles away to another state, for up to two months at a time, twice a year, away from your family.

Funny how people lament the loss of good jobs, especially around here, then turn around and begrudge the last few decent jobs around here when the workers fight to protect them.

Remember, if jobs are outsourced especially overseas, there goes potential future jobs for you or your family, as well. It's not just us, it's the next generation as well. If these middle class jobs are deliberately destroyed, if we don't fight to keep good jobs here in this area, who will?

Anonymous said...

Big companies like Verizon abuse the workers and want more power to do so... That's what it's all about.

Anonymous said...

It's awful quiet from all the striking members. Sounds to me that Verizon could care less one way or the other whether the old workforce comes back. They've proven that life goes on with or without you, it's business!! I'm assuming that there were a lot of people thankful you were so ungrateful and naive to think the work couldn't get done without you. There are a lot of independent contractors and non Union workers that are grateful. You played right into their hands you gave them what they wanted, same labor rates but no retirement and health programs to deal with. You'll really have something to cry about when they post the profits the next several quarters without that expense. Good job guys

Anonymous said...

If you don't like the pay, benefits and working conditions, go find another job that offers what you want. Oh wait, you get paid too much as it is and can't find a better job. Sucks to be you.

Anonymous said...

We'd be happy to do so, if they'd agree to pay us what they agreed to three and a half years ago.

Sick of you who have NO clue what you're talking about. Go back to work yourself.

Anonymous said...

Then explain why a non-union made $20,000 Toyota sells for $40,000+.

Anonymous said...

You'll similarly love the upcoming increase in your bill, regardless of what our contract works out. When they post yet another $1.7 billion profit next month, ask yourself if you can hear us now!

Anonymous said...

We dumped verizon (landlines and wireless) years ago. No increase for us and none for you union strikers. Even if you go back now for what is on the table, how many years will it take to make up for lost wages from striking? Google strike calculator.

Anonymous said...

Won't be me worrying about increases in Verizon's piracy of its customers. Verizon and Comcast two of the worst customer concerned providers

Anonymous said...

We like the pay and benefits just fine. If and when they outsource the call centers to foreign countries, it's irrelevant anyway.

"You get paid too much" = "wwwaaaahhhh you make more than I doooo not fair"

Sucks to be YOU.

Anonymous said...

Wages are not the issue. What is at stake is worth fighting for - job security, benefits, and so on.

Anonymous said...

Stop your whining it is not only Verizon employees that are feeling the pinch. Many companies have had to cut back. Where my spouse works they were given the choice to either have their pay cut or being laid off. We have always had great health insurance but thanks to Obamacare our premiums have gone up and coverage has gone way down. We now pay more for coverage but since we have such a high deductible we can't afford to go to the doctor anymore. Before we could take care of things before they get out of hand....now we just hope that it doesn't get worse. All the while we see people flooding to the doctors to get their free healthcare.

Anonymous said...

We never said other workers and employees aren't facing similar issues.

This is not a matter of a company "having to cut back" to ensure stability and stay in business. With record profits, 1.7 billion per month, they can certainly afford to knee providing the same level of compensation as before.

Anonymous said...

309 do you really think that only consumer prices have gone up? With every move on the gas prices, the price for Verizon trucks to operate costs more. For every price like healthcare hikes, this affects the company as well. You're not keeping those complimentary goods and services in mind when you say, "Give the same level of compensation as before." No, they can't. It doesn't matter that they made $1.7 Billion per month, you don't know if it takes $1 Billion to operate thanks to legislative restrictions and operating costs. This is the problem with unions. Most union reps have never owned an actual business and been responsible to meet a payroll while paying all the bills for a business on time. So they don't know the whole other part of a huge ugly picture. They tell union members these trace factoids without giving them the whole picture in an effort to drive workers' wages and their dues up. So to say "same level" if all things are considered, seriously doubt there is a same level even in profit either. People should be required to take business in high school because it would make them better citizens and employees in adult life.

Steve said...

Nobody here cares. We will choose our internet and phone providers by price and service. I left Verizon 2 years ago to stop the bleeding in my budget, and to think they would need their rates to cover the new raises, well, glad to be gone and very willing to tell my friends the alternatives I've turned to at 1/3 the cost and less. Ting and Comcast intro prices beat them, then switch to the next intro price. Shop like hell!

Anonymous said...

You're going to be obsolete in the next decade or so. No sense fighting to keep something that's not going to exist long-term.

Anonymous said...

Your take-home (net) pay decreased due to rising health care costs & others. Welcome to the real world. Your wages & salaries have increased as agreed.

A business in entitled to turn a profit. You're not entitled to a piece of it. Do your job or they'll find someone else who will.

Anonymous said...


Quit complaining when your bill goes up. They are ENTITLED to that additional profit...remember?

Yeah Right said...

When healthcare costs rise, the company passes the increase onto you, the employee, pro rata. This is normal and fair. So yes, you're greedy. You want the company to absorb 100% of rising operating costs while you get a de facto raise. Nice try.

Now get back to work & stop pretending you're the victim.