So for now a contract extension doesn’t look probable. Rumor has it there’s 2 main roadblocks in the way. One, the company has proposed a big increase for medical insurance for retirees that haven’t reached the Medicare Eligible age of 65. Potentially increasing premiums to an amount that’s staggering for those on a retirement income. Secondly the Union is trying to negotiate a pension benefit for those in the 2nd tier hired after 2012. That’s a major give back and it seems extremely unlikely the company would reverse course on a big ticket item like that. One of the NY locals recently sent this via text to their members:
In late May, CWA, IBEW, and Verizon began negotiations to determine whether an agreement could be reached to extend the current collective bargaining agreements. By late June, significant differences remained between the parties' proposals, and the Unions informed the Company of our intention to conclude negotiations. At the Company's request, a high-level meeting was held, during which the Unions agreed to continue discussions, with the understanding that the Company was prepared to more fully address the Unions' concerns. Despite these continued efforts, the Company has not adequately responded to the needs and priorities of our members. Instead, the Company has chosen to end the bargaining process.
Sounds to me like both Union and the Company left the bargaining table, each at different times. To the new employees without a pension, I wish it were that easy to win that for you. Many of us look at that 2012 contract and still cringe at what was lost. Best you might hope for is a bigger company match on the 401K. The 2nd tier was proposed by the Company not just to cut costs, but to make a strike less effective down the road. The legacy employees have more to lose and once it’s a bigger ratio of new hires to legacy employees, no new hire is going to vote for a strike, much less picket for something they will most likely never get.