The 45,000 striking workers at Verizon Communications will return to work on 23 August after the different parties reached an agreement on how bargaining will proceed on issues including benefits, cost structure, work flexibility and job security, Verizon said. The Communication Workers of America (CWA), also representing the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), said that while major issues remain to be discussed, issues are now focused and narrowed. Verizon said that the wireline employees on strike will be working under the terms of the contracts that expired on 6 August. The contracts will be extended with no specific deadline for achieving new collective bargaining agreements so that the parties can take the time required to resolve the issues. With its union-represented employees back at work, Verizon plans to quickly address any backlog in repairs and unfulfilled requests for service. CWA and IBEW represent 45,000 workers at Verizon covered by this contract from Virginia to New England.
