Both Sides See Verizon Talks Inching Toward an Agreement
Verizon Communications and its two main unions seem to be making slow progress as they work out their last few unsettled issues. Verizon would like to alter the contract's job security provisions in order to deal with fierce industry competition but the unions note that the company has already significantly reduced its unionized workforce. Verizon would also like union members to shoulder greater health care costs, but the unions argue that the company has made enough profit to pay health care benefits.
See Steven Greenhouse, The New York Times, August 6, 2003