Verizon, Unions Back At Bargaining Table On Day Three Of Strike

Verizon Communications executives were scheduled to continue talks August 9 with officials of two unions representing 45,000 workers, who are now in the third day of their walkout.

The telco's management met Aug 8 with leaders of the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers at the Hilton Westchester hotel in Rye Brook (NY). "We spent the entire day discussing all the issues that are on the New York/New England table and the Mid-Atlantic table," the CWA and IBEW said in a joint update issued at 1 a.m. Aug 9. "The Union is trying to limit the issues at both of these tables by convincing the company to withdraw many of their retrogressive demands. We recessed at 11:30 PM and we are scheduled to reconvene in the morning." The two sides held "high-level discussions" Aug 8, Verizon spokesman Rich Young said. "We'll continue talking as long as the unions are willing to negotiate with an open mind."