The 45-day protest has paid off. Striking Verizon employees and the chief executives came up with a tentative agreement that addresses the workers' demands. Over 40,000 workers who are on strike must have felt relieved after Verizon agrees to provide and additional of at least 1,300 call center jobs and other benefits.

The official website of Communications Workers of America (cwa-union.org) released a statement on May 29 indicating that aside from more jobs, the 4-year proposal also covers merely 10.9% percent salary increase, a $1250 signing bonus in the Mid-Atlantic.

There will also be a $1000 signing bonus and a $250 healthcare reimbursement account in the Northeast. Meanwhile, retail store employees for Verizon Wireless in Brooklyn, NY, and Everett, MA. will have a $2800 minimum in profit sharing, pension increases, and a first contract.

More than that, the draft for the agreement reveals that the proposed cuts and reductions for accident and disability benefits and pensions were all withdrawn. Other outsourcing initiatives were also reversed.

Mike Tisei, one of the retail employees in Everett exclaimed that this is the first time that they will get a contract. "Today is a great day for my family and working families along the East Coast, and it's only possible because we stood together."

Labor historian and CUNY professor at Queens College in New York Joshua B. Freeman stated that it is a win for the union, considering the length of picket and the huge number of workers that joined the mobilization.

"These guys not only struck and survived but actually came out of it with a pretty good contract," he said. "These days, that is a very unusual thing, to see that kind of walkout." as quoted by Reuters.

The workers will be back at work on Wednesday, June 1.