Workers for Verizon Communications have voted to authorize union leaders to call a strike in response to Verizon's demand for concessions the Communication Workers of America has called "aggressive". Verizon is seeking to limit pensions for current workers and demanding employees shoulder some of the burden of their health-care premiums, as well as binding pay increases to performance and not seniority. Company officials claim Verizon needs these concessions in order for the company to be more competitive in its wireline business, where many of its competitors are non-union. CWA leaders counter that the company is easily profitable enough in its wireless business to continue to be competitive overall without slashing benefits.
See "Facing Call for Concessions, Verizon Workers Vote to Authorize Strike", Steven Greenhouse, The New York Times, July 28, 2011