The IBEW New England and CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 Regional Committees returned to the bargaining table this week at the Rye Town Hilton in New York. After over a year of negotiations the Companies proposals have not changed much. When you receive propaganda from them stating that “they have moved and are asking for only moderate changes,” they are not being truthful. When their original proposals from a year ago start at a level that is so ridiculous and then they move, that doesn’t constitute positive movement. It is not right to tell the members that the company is bargaining fairly when they go from extremely ridiculous to just ridiculous. Legally they are bargaining but have made the demands so high that they become unreachable.

The Bargaining Teams return to New York weekly preparing counter proposals and demanding information. This will continue. They can try and push their agenda but we will continue to fight.

Many individual issues in the Companies proposals are coming to an end. This means that the Company has taken the position that they are done with that topic and will move on. We work on keeping all of these issues alive and will not let them dictate to us what will and will not be discussed.

As I said earlier, we will continue to bargain and will remain at the table. What the Company intends to do in the future is unclear at this time. With that being said all members should continue to prepare themselves for what could potentially be a very difficult road ahead. We must remain ready to fight for our future. I am not making these statements due to an imminent threat, but I feel that I would be remiss if I did not state the level of uncertainty coming from the Company.

We will remain at the table fighting these retrogressive demands until we work out an acceptable agreement for all of our members. This fight is far from over and we will work to protect our future.

Continue Mobilization activities. If you do not have mobilization activities, call the office. Meet outside work locations and informational picket. Let the public know that you still do not have a contract and Verizon wants to destroy middle class families. If you need informational picket signs, call the office. Participate in your own survival and stay united.