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North Country Communications Workers leader says pension, health benefits, job security big issues in strike against Verizon

Posted 5/4/16

By CRAIG FREILICH A union local president says that pension and health insurance benefits are big issues between telecommunications giant Verizon and two striking unions, the Communications Workers …

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North Country Communications Workers leader says pension, health benefits, job security big issues in strike against Verizon

Posted

By CRAIG FREILICH

A union local president says that pension and health insurance benefits are big issues between telecommunications giant Verizon and two striking unions, the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Worker.

CWA Local 1128 President Tom Allen, who represents members in Potsdam, Canton, Massena, Ogdensburg and Malone, says those issues and others that Verizon and the unions have not agreed upon over 10 months of contract negotiations have kept the workers off the job since they declared an impasse and walked out April 13.

Members have been picketing at the Verizon garage on the May Road in Potsdam in support of the union’s stances.

"Yes, this strike is over job security, but it is also about Verizon wanting to be able to transfer workers permanently anywhere from New England to Virginia, Verizon wanting to cut our health care, and other benefits," Allen says.

"Pension and medical are huge issues right now," Allen says, adding that "Verizon wants to take away our healthcare benefits and do away with 401k…"

This contradicts Verizon's public position, stated in its April 13 press release, "the company has on the table proposed wage increases, continued retirement benefits (including a generous 401(k) match) and excellent healthcare benefits…"

Members of the local said at one time there were 125 or more 1128 members in Ogdensburg, Canton, Massena, Potsdam and Malone, but now the number is closer to 40.

One logical conclusion might be that as cell phones have been replacing landline phones for many people and businesses, fewer landline technicians are required.

But Allen says that "a bigger reason that the workforce has shrunk is that Verizon has stopped maintaining its landline infrastructure and refuses to expand FIOS," their fiber-based bundled Internet access, telephone, and television service.

Allen says another issue is call center employees, the people who answer and handle inquiries from customers to Verizon.

Allen says "they want to close call centers and send that work to India."

Verizon says there are 36,000 "wireline associates" on strike, while the union says the number is 40,000.