Bell Atlantic Workers Prepare for Strike Amid Contract Dispute

Strategic Insights -

Tensions are running high as approximately 1,000 employees of Bell Atlantic Corp. in Hampton Roads prepare to go on strike when their union contract expires at midnight. The workers, represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA), are at odds with both Bell Atlantic and BellSouth over issues such as "forced overtime" and the company's outsourcing of work to non-union subsidiaries. The dispute could slow down phone service activations, address changes, and billing dispute resolutions for customers, affecting around 120,000 CWA-represented workers across the region.

Key Takeaways:

  • The CWA represents over 7,000 Bell Atlantic workers in Virginia, with the majority preparing to go on strike due to disagreements over working conditions and labor practices.
  • The main issues at the heart of the standoff are "forced overtime," outsourcing of work to non-union subsidiaries, and the company's productivity push.
  • Workers are tiring of the company's push for productivity, citing issues such as raised sales objectives and limited summer vacations.
  • Jan Lawrence, a 25-year veteran of Bell Atlantic, shared an instance where supervisors forced employees to work overtime during a storm, while Louie Scinaldi, president of CWA local 2202, stated that volunteers were always available in the past, but the company is no longer respecting this.
  • Carol Summerlyn, executive vice president of the local, expressed that workers are more willing to take action against the company than ever before.
  • Paula Terveer, a 20-year employee, stated that she believes a strike will occur and that workers are prepared to walk out the door yesterday.
  • The dispute could affect customers' efforts to establish new service, change addresses, resolve billing disputes, or activate additional phone lines.
  • Bell Atlantic's Virginia spokesman, Paul Miller, declined to comment on the strike preparations, stating only that their company has faith in the bargaining process.

Statistics:

  • The CWA represents approximately 7,000 Bell Atlantic workers in Virginia.
  • Around 120,000 CWA-represented workers across the region could be affected by the potential strike.
  • About three-fourths of the consultants in Paula Terveer's office did not meet their sales objectives two years ago.
  • The company has downsized in the past, but the demand for services has increased.
  • The Communications Workers of America (CWA) represents over 120,000 workers from Maine to Georgia.

Sources:

  • "Bell Atlantic workers prepare to strike over labor dispute" (no date listed)
  • Paula Terveer, CWA representative, no quotes listed
  • Carol Summerlyn, CWA local vice president, no quotes listed
  • Louie Scinaldi, CWA local president, no quotes listed
  • Jan Lawrence, Bell Atlantic employee, no quotes listed
  • Paul Miller, Bell Atlantic-Virginia spokesman, "We are talking and we have faith in the bargaining process"