The New York telecommunications provider said the company and the two unions representing the workers--the Communications Workers of America and also the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers--have made headway in their talks over a brand new contract.
The workers, who are based in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic areas, are returning after striking for nearly two weeks. The strike was a distraction for that company, which had to fill the empty positions with replacement workers, retired people, and managers.
The workers returning will have no new contract. They is going to be temporarily working under the terms of the old contract.
"We agreed to finish the strike because we believe that is in the best interest in our customers and our employees, " said Marc Reed, head of human relationships for Verizon. "We remain committed to our objectives, and we look forward to negotiating the key issues that are integral to the future health of Verizon's wireline company. "
The unions said the two sides have agreed on the new structure from the talks, but warned that the sides were still far apart.
Indeed, the unions seemed to have been blindsided by Verizon's official statement on the temporary arrangement.
Shortly after that statement was released, the CWA and IBEW sent out a good updated response lashing out at Reed's comments.
"We are disappointed to observe this quote from Marc Reed, Verizon's executive vice president for human assets, that the company hoped 'to convince the unions to begin bargaining around in good faith. ' It is both inaccurate and insulting, " the unions said inside a statement.
"We agreed with management not to claim victory in changing the procedure, re-instituting the contract, or shaping our goals, " they said. "We may live by that commitment. "
But the unions warned that if Verizon does not retract the statement, they would continue to "fight and fight hard, inch likely complicating the talks.
CNET has not yet heard back from Verizon concerning the unions' response to Reed's quote.
The strike began August 7, with the actual unions claiming Verizon was dragging its feet on negotiating.
The strike had turned bitter in the last two weeks, with Verizon taking legal action to curtail its workers' protests. The organization claimed that union members prevented replacement workers from entering the building, bothered managers, and engaged in acts of sabotage. It said the company was dealing with the FBI to investigate the damage done to its telecommunications equipment.
Previously this week, Verizon said it would soon strip away the striking employees' many benefits and medical coverage.
The union, meanwhile, said Verizon managers were being too aggressive within their driving, and claimed two dozen reports of strikers getting clipped by vehicles.
Verizon is attempting to change the terms of the contract to much better reflect the realities facing the older landline business. Executives have said the changes are essential given the competitive pressures from cable rivals and wireless providers.
Verizon is seeking changes that would let it more easily fire employees, tie pay to performance, and require workers to cover a share of health benefits.
The workers point to the record profits from the company and have dismissed the need for changes in their contracts. They also argue that they're responsible for the fixed-line infrastructure necessary to run the higher growth cellular business.