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New England Verizon Techs Win Majority Sign-Up

May 27, 2011

More than 20 Verizon technicians will be formally sworn in as members of Boston Local 2222 this summer after management voluntarily agreed to recognize their right to join the union May 10.

Most of the technicians, who work for Verizon Select Services, formerly part of Bell Atlantic, had signed union cards and petitioned management for majority sign-up months ago.

Says Local 2222 Business Manager Myles Calvey:

Management saw that most of the workers wanted to go union and were willing to respect that.

Calvey is also the chairman of the T-6 Council, which represents IBEW Verizon employees in New England.

Lead Organizer Steve Smith had contacted the workers, who were concerned about job security, last year. He says the interest in going IBEW was high.

The technicians will be covered by the existing New England Verizon contract, which means they will receive similar benefits and wages enjoyed by most IBEW members at the telecom.

The agreement also means more work for IBEW members, Calvey says.

The technicians are responsible for maintaining large commercial and industrial facilities throughout New England. When extra hands were needed, Verizon turned to nonunion contractors for help, but the recent agreement means that the company will now use union members on the job.

Says Calvey:

The agreement we worked out with management provides more jobs for all of us It protects Verizon Select Services techs with an enforceable contract where the rules governing pay, benefits, promotions and working conditions are spelled out in writing. And just as importantly, we have again preserved the concept that Verizon telephone work is union work.

Verizon’s East Coast contract for more than 50,000 IBEW and CWA members expires August 6. Activists are gearing up to defend good wages, quality health care and decent pensions at the company.

Workers will be rallying in Providence, R.I., June 16 to kick off negotiations. Click here for more information.

Photo used under a Creative Common License from Flickr user ukslim.