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In October, Verizon advised the union the company would require employees to be vaccinated.  All IBEW and CWA union locals across the footprint demanded to bargain any such requirement, and began negotiations on October 28th.

Verizon initially relied upon the Presidential Executive Order (“PEO”) (Executive Order 14042, issued September 9, 2021) and the subsequent Safer Federal Workforce Task Force COVID-19 Workplace Safety: Guidance for Federal Contractors and Subcontractors, issued September 24, 2021, as their motivation for a vaccine requirement.  When the OSHA COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (“OSHA ETS”), published on November 5th, was issued, Verizon further emphasized their need to implement a vaccine mandate. 

However, the company quickly pivoted to calling their mandate their own policy as a private employer, a status that has thus far been immune to litigation and has allowed private companies to implement vaccine policies with no successful legal challenges to date.  Therefore, despite the courts having later struck down the OSHA ETS, the PEO is still in place, and Verizon is able to maintain a private policy regardless of either. 

During negotiations, the unions consistently and repeatedly proposed that the company allow employees to opt out of any mandate for medical, religious, or personal reasons of any kind by allowing them to seek accommodation or utilize a testing option.  The company claimed they could not due to the PEO, which does not allow for any testing option.  The union asked the company to identify employees who would be subject to the PEO and carve out the other employees either entirely or allow them the option to test in lieu of vaccination.  The company refused to allow either option. 

The unions proposed expansion of unpaid leave which employees would be subject to if they did not get vaccinated; termination payments for employees who would be separated as a result of not being vaccinated; and specific guidelines for employees who requested accommodations for religious and medical reasons. The company adopted some of these into their counter proposals, but not all of them. 

On November 16th, Verizon presented the union with their Last Best and Final Offer.  The union made a counter proposal, which was rejected.  Verizon then informed the union that negotiations had reached an impasse, and that the company would implement their Last Best and Final Offer as their new company vaccine policy. 

The following are some of the key aspects of the Company’s last offer:

  1. Employees who do not get at least one dose of the vaccine prior to February 1, 2022 may be placed on unpaid leave for at least 60 days.
  • If at any point during that unpaid leave the employee submits proof of partial vaccination, the leave will be suspended and the employee will be permitted to return to work abiding by applicable safety protocols.
  • An employee who does not get at least a first dose of a vaccine prior to the expiration of the 60 day unpaid leave may be separated at the end of the leave.
  • Employees will have the opportunity to apply for medical and religious exemptions.
  • Employees who are unable to get vaccinated during non-work hours will continue to have up to 4 hours of paid leave to get a first dose and up to another 4 hours of paid leave to get a second dose of a two dose vaccine.

Verizon and the System Council T6 reached agreement to extend the Home Garaging Agreement through July 31st.  This is a win for our members, who are most at risk for exposure to COVID-19, by providing reduced contact with co-workers at work locations. 

The IBEW & CWA have been working hard with Verizon to reach agreements to protect our members, while at the same time maintaining our network. We have made the following agreements:

Work from Home:

Members who work an inside desk job, who have the required broadband service at their residence, who requests to work at home, have been allowed to do so.  At this time, more than 90% of eligible employees have chosen to work from home. If you have any issues, please call the Union office.

Today, the System Council T6 has agreed to extend the Work at Home agreement until September 30, 2021.  Both CWA and Mid-Atlantic have also agreed to the extension.  Continuing this option will help keep people safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19 until there is more information about the progress of the Coronavirus Pandemic. 

It’s with a heavy hearty and deepest sympathy that I announce the death of Sister Cathy Tibbetts. Cathy was a service rep in the enterprise group who succumbed to Covid 19 today at the age of 55. Her loss is devastating for her family and friends and she will be missed. We will post details of services as soon as they are available.

Members may be eligible for a LOA related to COVID-19 for up to 26 weeks. There are 4 scenarios for this leave:

  1. For those medically diagnosed with COVID-19
  2. For those with an underlying condition (their own or a household member) who are unable to work from home.
  3. For those with childcare or eldercare issues
  4. For those caring for a person diagnosed with COVID-19

Please CLICK HERE to read the agreement.

How to Apply for a Covid-19 LOA

To apply for a Leave of Absence from a company computer, tablet or phone,
access the COVID-19 Resource Page on the VZ E-Web.

If you are unable to access the VZ E-Web use one the links below:

Effective April 16, 2020 – COVID-19 – Community Medical Support Leave

  • In light of federal, state, and municipal calls for medically-trained individuals to support in responding to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Company will enable medically-trained associates (e.g., doctors, nurses, EMT’s) providing such medical support to take a leave of absence in one week intervals of up to 8 weeks with pay at their basic hourly rate and up to 18 weeks with pay at 60% of their basic hourly rate (subject to termination at any time during the 26 week period if/when the associate ceases or curtails work supporting the COVID-19 response effort.)
  1. Gather the necessary documents to support your application. You will need to upload documents verifying the following with your request for leave: 
    1. Your medical certification
    2. Call for Community Medical Support (advertisement, letter, etc.)
    3. Confirmation of acceptance at a facility in alignment with the Call for Community Medical Support
    4. Name and location of the facility where you will be providing medical services
    5. Description of medical services you will be providing while on leave
    6. Confirmation of pay/non-pay 
  2. Complete the COVID-19 Community Medical Support Leave Request form and attach the above documentation.
  3. You and your supervisor will be notified within 24 hours of decision.  

If approved and once you complete your assignment providing COVID-19 Community Medical Support, Verizon will require that you work from home for 14 days before returning to Verizon facilities. If you are unable to work from home, please notify your HR Business Partner, and they can work with you to implement a 14-day quarantine leave.

Please CLICK HERE to read the agreement.