“Marc Reed and other Verizon executives are trying to rig the system against working families. The question of federal mediation is a distraction to the real problem: Verizon's corporate greed. Historically, federal mediators only get involved in collective bargaining situations with the agreement of both parties. CWA did not authorize anyone at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to approach Verizon about extending the strike date. Either the FMCS acted without authorization or Verizon executive vice president Marc Reed is lying.
“All day today, CWA and IBEW bargaining teams have been available to meet, ready, able and willing to bargain. Where’s Verizon?”
http://www.cwa-union.org/news/releases/verizon-strike-update