Verizon makes ‘last’ offer to striking workers

Verizon workers on the East Coast are continuing to strike after the company gave unions what it called its “last, best and final” offer.

The drama played out on Thursday weeks into a strike that has been nationally prominent and drawn the attention of Democratic presidential candidates.

{mosads}In videos explaining the offer, the company laid out its proposals on benefits and compensation, among other issues raised by labor leaders.

“The company is committed to achieving new labor agreements, and we have put all of our cards on the table,” said Marc Reed, the company’s chief administrative officer. “With the company having provided its last, best, final offer, the ball is now in the hands of the union leaders.”

One of the unions representing the almost 40,000 workers on strike said in response to the offer that the work stoppage was continuing.

Leaders with the Communications Workers of America said in a statement that “Verizon workers remain on strike and are standing strong on the picket lines” and that “executives refused to back off of callous proposals that would hurt working families and destroy middle class jobs, including shipping jobs overseas and outsourcing work.”

“The union is currently considering its next steps in the bargaining process,” they said.

The strike has now been going on for more than two weeks, with workers claiming the company wants draconian cuts and Verizon arguing the unions are trying to throw a wrench in the works of contract negotiations.

Both Democratic front-runner former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her primary rival Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) have expressed support for the strikers.