Verizon Strike Ends With Return to Work Under Old Contract

Verizon and its striking union members have reached an agreement that will send employees back to work on Monday night while negotiators continue to hammer out the contours of a new contract.

The strike-ending compromise, which does not contain new collective bargaining agreements, was announced by Verizon on Saturday, ending the all-day picketing at locations in Braintree and throughout the eastern United States.

"It's great news for our customers," Verizon spokesman Phil Santoro said on Saturday, confirming other news reports.

Some 45,000 Verizon workers nationwide and 6,000 in Massachusetts went on strike at midnight on Aug. 6 after failing to reach an agreement. They are members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Communications Workers of America.

In Braintree, members of IBEW Local 2222 have been a proposal by Verizon that union leaders said would would increase the cost of health benefits, freeze pensions, eliminate some holidays and get rid of pay-boosters like Sunday overtime and nighttime differential.

Verizon said in a press release on Saturday that the company has made headway with the unions on negotiations "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."

There will be no deadline for the continued contract talks, according to the release.

"We agreed to end the strike because we believe that is in the best interest of our customers and our employees," Marc Reed, Verizon’s executive vice president of human resources said in a statement. "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.”