Verizon is having some serious problems with its workers. Last August, Verizon’s contract with workers of two unions which represent employees that deliver critical services, such as repairs, landline service, installation and customer service. The workers continued to work as the union worked towards a solution with the company, but the workers’ patience has run out. They went on strike recently, meaning that some 39,000 people are no longer supporting the critical services mentioned above.
It sounds as though work location and job security are critical issues for workers, and there will certainly be a lot for the company and the unions to go over before a new agreement can be reached.Â
Back in 2011, a similar situation occurred with about 45,000 Verizon employees going on strike for about two weeks. These are incredibly complex contracts that the unions have to work out in order to placate the workers and ensure that both parties can get along until the next round of negotiations.
Unions have a major part to play in many industries, and the companies who are in those industries need to be able to handle the potential legal issues that can arise as a result. Without proper legal representation during these complex negotiations (or even more mundane issues that may spring up), the company could find itself in an unenviable position. With so much at stake, it is imperative that companies have the legal counsel they need to combat potential legal or labor problems.
Source : Mercury News, “About 39,000 Verizon workers go on strike amid contract dispute,” Michael Balsamo, April 13, 2016