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Workers Say Verizon Violated State Labor Laws

Posted on: Monday, 24 April 2006, 18:00 CDT

By Larry Rulison, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Apr. 21--ALBANY -- Salespeople for the Verizon affiliate that publishes the Yellow Pages in New York have filed a class-action lawsuit over compensation policies.

The Albany law firm O'Connell and Aronowitz on Thursday disclosed the suit, brought March 23 in state Supreme Court in Albany County. The suit alleges that compensation programs current and former salespeople worked under from 2001 until February violated state labor laws.

"We don't comment on pending litigation, and we believe the lawsuit is without merit," said Verizon spokeswoman Mary De La Garza.

Compensation has been a huge issue for New York's Yellow Pages workers, who are employed by a unit called Verizon Information Services. About 350 of the company's unionized New York workers went on strike in October to protest what they said were unfair labor negotiations for a new contract.

Workers ratified a new contract in February.

The lawsuit claims VIS has been making "illegal deductions and charges" against workers' commissions for not reaching sales targets.

Stephen Coffey, a partner in the law firm, was not available for comment on the suit.

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Copyright (c) 2006, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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VZ,

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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