The Communications Workers of America (CWA) says Verizon’s offer to raise pay for 38,000 wireline employees is a ruse.
“Verizon’s claims about the pay increases they put on the bargaining table yesterday are simply a smokescreen designed to hide the harsh reality of their concessionary demands; deep cuts to pension benefits, skyrocketing increases in medical costs, and the complete elimination of job security,” wrote Dennis Trainor, vice president of CWA District One, in a statement.
Verizon today announced that it had put together a package as part of union negotiations that includes among other things a 2 percent wage increase effective Aug. 2, 2015; a 2 percent increase one year later; and a $1,000 lump sum payment in the third year.
Trainor contends that beneath pay raise are cost-cutting measures that would include job cuts.
“Despite $9.6 billion in profits in 2014 and $44 million in compensation to their top five executives, Verizon wants to eliminate middle-class jobs and let customer service deteriorate,” Trainor said. “Their proposals would slash thousands of jobs and leave our remaining members with a diminished standard of living at the end of any new contract.”
Robert Mudge, Verizon’s executive vice president for wireline operations, said that the goal during this contract cycle is come to an agreement with the unions that meets workers’ needs and advances Verizon’s business.
“We’ve put a comprehensive offer on the table to encourage a substantive and productive dialog on the issues as early in the process as possible. We are committed to negotiating meaningful changes,” Mudge said in a statement.
