Verizon Reaches New Labor Deal [telecom]

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Tentative four-year agreement with unions would cover 30,000 employees, take effect in 2020

By Sarah Krouse

Verizon Communications Inc. reached a tentative agreement with unions representing more than 30,000 employees, the parties said Thursday, a move likely to avoid the work stoppages that have plagued past negotiations.

The four-year agreement covers pole climbers, call-center represen- tatives and other staffers in Verizon's landline business, which includes its Fios TV and broadband services. During the previous round of negotiations, in 2016, some 40,000 workers went on strike for 49 days.