U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez says Verizon talks with unions to continue

U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez brought Verizon and the Communications Workers of America along with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers back to the bargaining table after a prolonged standoff that has gone on for weeks. Both sides have committed to continue negotiations, which started yesterday in Washington D.C., for the rest of this week, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

“I’m encouraged by the parties’ continued commitment to remain at the bargaining table and work toward a resolution,” Perez said in a statement Tuesday night. “We will continue to facilitate conversations to help the unions and the company reach an agreement.”

It has been over a month since 36,000 Verizon workers from New England down to Virginia walked off the job. Their contract had expired last August. On April 28, Verizon’s management made its “last, best, and final offer” that included a 7.5 percent wage hike and backed off an earlier demand that it be able to relocate technicians for two-month stints anywhere in Verizon’s multi-state territory.

A central issue in the labor stand-off has been the use by Verizon of off-shore call centers in the Philippines. The CWA maintains that the practice threatens the job security for the 13,000 union call center workers based here in the United States.  

In a statement, Verizon spokesman Richard Young dismissed the CWA's assertion. “As an international company, these centers mostly help support our international operations,” Young wrote in an email to City & State. “They also support a small amount of domestic work, mostly during overnight periods, Sundays and some holidays when our US based prefer not to work.”