The IBEW Union locals throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island have been working since early this year beginning with the Super EIPP retirement incentive as well as the current negotiations surrounding the oversubscriptions and non-surplus “B offers.”  As we have maintained all along, the release of the over-subscribers and non-surplus is contractual and the IBEW receives backfills for the jobs in order to release people.   Verizon management has dragged this process out by holding the workers hostage who want to leave by being disingenuous with regards to following the contract and long standing practices regarding this process.  The Union’s, both the IBEW and CWA will not just let the jobs go without backfills because this is Verizon’s plan to further downsize their entire unionized workforce.  The jobs we save, which include retaining the post-2003 hires can be used to help right-size the business to the departments that could use additional headcount.   Throughout this process we have heard Verizon indicate that in departments where there is plenty of work and no surplus, that they do not want to backfill at all and even contract some work out.  This is totally unacceptable and finally we have moved beyond this point and secured jobs.  We still need to finalize the final headcount and processes for filling some jobs and when we finally negotiate this with the company, we will have an agreement and not until then.  Verizon holds the cards on making the rest of this happen and we will continue to advocate for all of the workers and everyone involved, so please be patient and we will keep the informational tape updated as we progress through this process.