That's a powerful union advantage for us all. Despite these important gains, the fact that the fight over job security became a key issue shows the underside of today's economy. With official unemployment rates at historic lows, there is something deeply wrong when job security concerns fuel strikes at companies like Verizon, Raytheon, and Bath Iron Works. Besides demanding increased security, the Verizon workers fought to improve the quality of their jobs. New contract language will provide some relief for workplace stress, which has become a major health and safety issue in today's workplaces.
Overtime is another growing problem for American workers.
Earlier this year, Worcester, Massachusetts nurses struck to defeat crushing overtime requirements that compromised patient care. Lean and mean policies not only eliminate good jobs from our communities but erode the quality of the jobs that remain. Before the strike, Verizon managers required some union employees to work up to 15 hours of involuntary overtime a week. By capping forced overtime at eight hours, the strikers won an important victory that means a lot for workers and their families. That's an important union advantage.