In just two weeks, Verizon and the unions managed to do quite a bit of damage to each other – perhaps more than either side anticipated. Verizon has complained of sabotage incidents and gotten injunctions against various protests that crossed the line, but has also suffered black eyes from some pretty ugly service issues, delays, and safety claims. And while tempers are running hot, both sides have quite a bit to lose because both sides want a Verizon wireline that continues to make money and therefore employ plenty of people.
So the unions called off the dogs, and therefore avoid a showdown over Verizon’s threat to cut health insurance by the end of the month. But by doing so early there is obviously the implicit threat that workers likely still have the mojo to restart the war if the ‘structure’ of the talks doesn’t translate into a contract. There has been little or no progress on the actual issues at stake.
So a cease fire then. Both sides will no doubt be re-arming as their leaders sit down and try out the new ‘structure’ of the conversation.
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lets see Verizon pays for any concession they provide union workers based on 2 week of no wages, Union leaders dont tap there strike fund and continue to hold high paying leadership positions representing union workers. Everyone wins except the WORKER wholost 2 weeks of wages and will likely take take a hit on one or two issues. I neginning to wonder if rank and file worker need union rep, I am not sureif the leadesr of union ar eprotecting themselevs or the worker at this point, certainly slightly delusional about the futire of wireline union workers.
Well, at least it is only a 4 day work week to start back. I am sure the backlog of work is small.