Verizon blasts CWA copper network claims, calling them a labor negotiation tactic

Verizon says that the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union's claims that the telecommunication company is abandoning its copper networks in various states is just a labor negotiation tactic. The CWA has continued to blast Verizon for taking part in what is referred to as "de facto" copper retirement, a practice where a company would let copper factilities degrade to the point where they would have no choice but to replace them with fiber. In a Federal Communications Commission filing, Verizon said that the CWA's arguments are part of its own negotiation strategy for the wireline workers it represents. The service provider and workers represented by the CWA have been operating without a contract since September.

"CWA's assertions here are straight out of its announced labor negotiation playbook, in which it calls on its members to "build political and regulatory pressure on the company" as a negotiation strategy," Verizon said in a FCC filing. "Indeed, CWA admits as much, acknowledging that its "survey" of technicians it relies on in its comments was conducted in connection with forming its strategy "for pending negotiations" with Verizon. Thus CWA's allegations should be reviewed in context with its efforts to further its own parochial interests in ongoing labor negotiations with Verizon."