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By Staff Writers, teleSUR
teleSUR
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
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| Striking Verizon workers and supporters held rallies throughout the country. | Photo: CWA |
Nearly 40,000 Verizon workers who have been on strike since April 13 celebrated big gains after reaching a tentative agreement with the company Monday. “It proves that when we stand together we can raise up working families,” said CWA president, Chris Shelton.
Verizon will add 1,300 new East Coast jobs, withdraw outsourcing plans, provide a 10.9 percent raise over four years, and make pensions and health-care concessions, among other things.
Union members will vote on the tentative four-year contract by June 17.
“After more than six weeks on the picket line, Verizon workers won an excellent new contract that will protect good jobs and preserve our standard of living. The members’ unity and determination defeated company proposals to outsource and contract out work ... ," said Dennis G. Trainor, Vice President of CWA District One.
“Together, we are turning the tide from cutbacks against working people to building a stronger labor movement and strengthening the power of working Americans," he added.
Verizon, the the largest U.S. wireless service provider, agreed to scale back outsourcing and withdrew their proposal to relocate workers for extended periods of time, which were two important issues for the striking workers.
The company will also withdraw proposed cuts to pensions as well as reductions in accident and disability benefits.
“It proves that when we stand together we can raise up working families, improve our communities and advance the interests of America’s working people,” said CWA president, Chris Shelton.
Workers have been without a contract since August 2015 and healthcare coverage ran out at the end of April, leaving 110,000 workers without coverage.
The strike is one of the biggest in recent U.S history and drew wide support from the labor movement, community groups and Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.
Workers who have been on strike are planning to go back to work Wednesday. If they vote to ratify the agreement, the new contract would run until August 2019.
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