It’s been exactly one month since about 500 Central New York Verizon workers joined roughly 40,000 others along the east coast and walked off the job. Little movement has been made since the company’s "last and best final offer" two weeks ago.
Striking Verizon workers got a helping hand from members of other unions Thursday and Friday who grilled hotdogs and shared a lunch at the teamsters union hall on Spencer Street. Executive Vice President of Communications Workers of America Local 1123 Nikki Tonas says helping each other is what a union’s about.
"You can't go to any line and not get something dropped off to us by a brother or sister from another union. The water, doughnuts...it's overwhelming the amount of support we've had."
Tonas says most families are making do as negotiations enters a second month. Verizon spokesperson Rich Young says the strike is regrettable for both workers and customers. But he says the workers with the company’s challenged wireline unit have to realize land lines are fading.
"The business model has changed dramatically from 20 or 30 years ago when many of these contract provisions were put in place," Young said. "They need to be updated. The union leadership needs to work with us to make that happen."
But union members like the CWA’s Nikki Tonas feel the company wants too much, especially of field technicians who would be sent out of town for several weeks at a time.
"Two months at a time being sent to another state, how does any family survive like that," Tonas said. "Mom or dad...we do have field technicians who are single parents. Still, a parent is gone for two months at a time. That's a long time to be away from your kids."
Tonas says Verizon also wants to off-shore call center jobs from right here in the Syracuse area. Company spokesperson Rich Young says there’s a great offer on the table.
"A 7.5 percent wage increase. The continuation of excellent health care and retirement benefits," Young said. "More than 80 percent of employees would have job protections, essentially layoff protections. Most Americans would take this contract and say it's awesome."
