Verizon
Communications announced that its 45,000 wireline employees in nine
Northeastern states and the District of Columbia who are represented by the CWA
and IBEW will return to work on August 22, without new collective bargaining
agreements.

 

Verizon  and the
unions have made headway in negotiating a number of local and regional issues,
and the parties have agreed on a process for moving forward to negotiate the
major issues regarding benefits, cost structure, work flexibility and job
security.

 

Verizon said
the wireline employees now on strike would be working under the terms of the
contracts that expired on August 6.  The contracts will be extended with
no specific deadline for achieving new collective bargaining agreements so that
the parties can take the time required to resolve the critical issues.

 

“We
agreed to end the strike because we believe that is in the best interest of our
customers and our employees.  We remain committed to our objectives, and
we look forward to negotiating the important issues that are integral to the
future health of Verizon’s wireline business,” said Marc Reed, executive vice
president of human resources, Verizon.

 

With its
union-represented employees back at work, Verizon plans to quickly address any
backlog in repairs and unfulfilled requests for service.