Not pictured: union workers.

In tough economic times, it’s never easy to negotiate a new contract.  Companies are looking to tighten their belts, while employees are looking to keep from tightening their personal belts.  That’s even the case with Verizon Wireless.  The nation’s largest wireless carrier, Verizon made $6 billion dollars last year, yet the company is still trying to tighten up if only because their competition is doing the same.  The unions involved say no dice, and they’re putting their money where their mouth is.  Over 45,000 union workers have walked out of Verizon after the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Communication Workers of America declared a general strike.

“Verizon is not General Motors or Ford,” said Bob Master of the CWA, which represents 30,000 of the 45,000 workers involved in the strike–the IBEW represents the other 15,000.  “This is a company that has made billions upon billions of dollars.  Because of the recession and anti-union climate, they have decided to try and drive down the middle-class standards of our members.”  Master further described the bargaining as “the worst we’ve ever seen in 50 years.”

If you’re looking to pick up a new iPad or an iPhone, odds are you won’t see any problems, as Verizon has pushed their corporate and non-union staff into customer service and other unionized positions.  Still, if you’re looking to get something repaired, you might be waiting awhile.

Tags: Verizon, Verizon Wireless, 45000 employees strike at Verizon, Verizon hit with strikes, labor strife, Verizon strike, 45000 employees walk out on Verizon, union strike at Verizon, Bob Master, Communication Workers of America, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, IBEW, CWA, Verizon strikes, cellular phones, business

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