Verizon Wireless held a crucial meeting with the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers that could see up to 38,000 of its employees get contract reviews.
The employees fall under Verizon East Wireline with the proposed wage increase being part of a competitive and comprehensive three-year offer. The company hopes that this proposal will help in addressing issues that would help propel the Wireline unit in the digital age where competition is very high.
Robert Mudge, Verizon’s executive vice president for Wireline operations said in a statement that they are hopeful the offer will be acceptable to all employees. “Our goal this contract cycle is simple: To work from day one with union leaders on ways that will help our Wireline business succeed, in an ever-changing communications arena, in the years to come,” the statement read.
“We’ve put a comprehensive offer on the table to encourage a substantive and productive dialogue on the issues as early in the process as possible. We are committed to negotiating meaningful changes.” The offer covers key areas of employees’ welfare including wages, pensions, healthcare and workforce management. The company is looking forward to reaching an amicable agreement with employees in all these areas.
“More than ever, we need contractual change that position us to compete with new and emerging technologies,” Tami Erwin, president of Verizon’s Consumer and Mass Business unit said. “American consumers are communicating in new and innovative ways. The way we work and respond to our customers’ demands flexibility. Our contract rules and provisions need to be updated to reflect those changes.”
Mudge regretted that very few companies in America have invested in providing fiber-optic networking all the way to customers’ homes. He hopes Verizon will be the first one to set the trend for other market players to emulate.