For Immediate Release: June 17, 2016

Contact: Mark Brueggenjohann  202-728-6014

IBEW Members Ratify Verizon Contract 

Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers employed by Verizon Communications Inc., overwhelmingly ratified a new four-year agreement with the company June 17.  

“I want to congratulate everyone at Verizon who stuck together and worked so hard to get to this moment,” said IBEW International President Lonnie R. Stephenson. “This is a huge milestone for working families, not only at Verizon, but across the nation.”

Under the terms of the contract, Verizon agreed that no additional jobs will be outsourced overseas, while increasing the number of calls routed to domestic call centers. This will result in the creation of 1,300 new call center jobs with 850 in the Mid-Atlantic region and 450 in the Northeast.

Verizon also agreed to drop its demand that technicians be able to travel outside their home area for upwards of two months at a time.

Also included in the new contract:

• Wage increases of 3 percent for the first year and 2.5 each year after
• No cap on pensions and three 1 percent increases over the life of the agreement
• Retaining competitive health benefits
• Strong job security language

“This is a strong, pro-middle class contract that brings more good jobs back to the U.S. and supports working moms and dads,” said Stephenson.

The IBEW represents 10,000 workers covered by the new contract in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.