IBEW Local 824 (Tampa FL) Negotiates With Verizon

Jul 15, 2005

Verizon Union Cites Top Concern As Job Flexibility And Security

By WILL RODGERS
wjrodgers@tampatrib.com


TAMPA - When contract talks between Verizon Communications Inc. and its union open Monday, job flexibility and security, not pay, will be at the top of the agenda.

The telecommunication giant will sit down with International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 824 to begin working out a new agreement covering 5,000 Verizon workers in the Tampa Bay area. The current three-year agreement expires July 30.

On Thursday, the union fired a first salvo, stating in a news release that Verizon does not allow single mothers working in call centers to attend their children's school events or take their children to the doctor. The IBEW also called for Verizon to guarantee that it won't ship jobs out of the Bay area because wireless and fiber-optic technologies might require fewer people to do certain jobs.

``The company has come to the point where they allow a certain amount of time to go to the bathroom,'' said Doug Sellars, assistant business manager and the spokesman for Local 824. ``It's ridiculous.

``We want some flexibility for the employees who work here. We know the company needs to run the business, but there is life outside Verizon.''

Bob Elek, Verizon's spokesman for Florida, generally discounted the union's claims but would not speak about specific statements the union made in the news release. He said Verizon and the union will negotiate a contract ``that satisfies both sides.''

``We're going to negotiate in good faith with the union as we always do,'' Elek said. ``We're not going to negotiate on the streets nor in the media.''

During the past 30 days, the IBEW and Verizon met informally several times. Once formal negotiations open Monday, both sides will have 13 days to complete a deal before the current contract expires at midnight July 30.

Sellars would not comment about what the union might do if no new accord is worked out. Job flexibility and security are the top two issues for the union, but pay also will be discussed, he said.

Verizon is the dominant local telephone provider in the Bay area. The company is spending hundreds of millions of dollars installing fiber-optic cable that will allow it to continue its phone service, boost Internet speeds and, eventually, offer pay television.

Sellars said the union is urging ``Verizon not to neglect traditional telephone service as it chases the high-profit sectors of its business.''

``We're challenging Verizon to commit to this community and its residents,'' he said. ``The company has a duty to its customers and employees, not just its stockholders.''

This story can be found at: http://news.tbo.com/news/MGBL1OCR5BE.html