20 Senators urge Verizon to settle fair contract with unions

Twenty Senators sent aletter to Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam urging him to settle a fair contract with the company’s unions, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).

“We are writing to encourage Verizon to work towards progress in the current round of collective bargaining with its unions,” the letter read. “We believe that it is in the best interest of our constituents that Verizon and its unions reach a fair agreement that supports good jobs for workers and ensures Verizon can move forward in investing in state-of-the-art broadband buildout for communities around our States, including currently unserved and underserved areas.”

CWA and IBEW have been in contract negotiations with Verizon since August 2015.

The senators added that, "the wireless retail workers and technicians who have been at the heart of Verizon's success...that has driven the company's impressive profitability of $39 billion over the last three years" deserve the opportunity for improved wages and benefits.”

“We urge you to act as a responsible corporate citizen, and negotiate a fair contract with the employees who make your company’s success possible,” the letter concludes. “We look forward to a prompt and fair resolution of these issues.”

Read the full letter and the list of signershere.

Letter from 20 US Senators to Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam (US Senate, March 18, 2016)