Wednesday, May 11, 2016
The Mid-Atlantic Bargaining Committee continues to work in Philadelphia to reach an agreement as quickly as possible. We met with the company on Monday with a small group to discuss COBRA, life insurance and other issues that Verizon is making difficult for our striking members. We are proud to report that in just 11 days CWA has already helped members needing medical care with over $380,000 in COBRA payments.
While we have not met formally this week with the company regarding the core issues in dispute, we have spent many hours reviewing data on health care and pensions we had requested the end of April. We have also spent time working with our attorneys and research department on other open issues. There are many moving parts currently in play in these negotiations.
We continue to do an amazing job on the picket lines. We can’t stress enough how the work that you do there is making an impact here. This round of bargaining has been like no other and Verizon is pulling out all the stops. They continuously try going to the courts and the picket lines attempting to stop us from picketing but we remain vigilant. It is obvious we are having an impact. It is important, though, that any incidents that happen while picketing are reported and an incident report gets filled out and sent up immediately. Any member approached by Company management threatening your job for not crossing the picket line and scabbing, should report this information immediately to your Local.
In the next few days we will be receiving yard signs that members and supporters can put up in their yards as another message to the public about our fight. Thousands and thousands of signs in our communities will keep our message out in the public.
As the rain, wind and storms continue to provide divine assistance to our strike, the committee would like to thank all of you for the time and effort you and your families have given out on the picket line. All of us standing together will win this fight!