Verizon Strike 2016: Feds Say Dispute Is Hurting Company, Thousands of Families

Editor's Note: This article is part of an ongoing series. Catch up on the latest news about the Verizon strike here.

By ERIC KIEFER (Patch Staff)

May 16, 2016 – Bargaining talks are set to resume between Verizon and nearly 40,000 striking workers in nine states on Tuesday.

But this time a guest will be sitting in… U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez.

The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following statement on Sunday evening:

“A few days ago, U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez reached out to the parties in the ongoing labor dispute involving Verizon workers and invited them to meet with him in Washington in an effort to help the parties resolve a dispute that is affecting thousands of workers, their families, and the company.

“Today, Secretary Perez met at the U.S. Labor Department with Lowell McAdam, chairman and CEO of Verizon, Chris Shelton, president of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), and Lonnie Stephenson, president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). The parties had an open, frank and constructive dialogue about finding a comprehensive way forward to resolve disputed issues and get people back to work. The parties agreed to return to the bargaining table on Tuesday to continue their discussion.”

Perez said that he was “singularly impressed by the parties’ appreciation that time is of the essence.”

“The best way to resolve this labor dispute is at the bargaining table, and I am heartened by the parties’ mutual commitment to get back to immediate discussions and work toward a new contract,” Perez stated.

Members of the CWA and IBEW launched a national strike against Verizon on April 13.

• Catch up on the latest news and history of the Verizon worker strike of 2016 here

Photo of protest in Amherst, NY, via Stand Up To Verizon, Facebook

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