Oct. 18, 2002 – The Senate is getting involved in the ongoing labor dispute between Innovative Telephone/Cable and the United Steelworkers of America, according to a press release from Sen. Adelbert Bryan.
Bryan called two emergency committee meetings yesterday to investigate the circumstances that led to the dispute and to Thursday's federal mediation impasse.
The senator invited Innovative Communication Corporation officials, representatives of the union, Attorney General Iver Stridiron, Labor Commissioner Cecil Benjamin and Economic Development Authority officials to meetings scheduled for next week.
ICC's 310 telephone and cable company employees went on strike more than two weeks ago after contract negotiations broke down. The dispute centers around retirement and benefit packages.
Since the workers began picketing, over 5,000 Virgin Islanders have lost phone or cable service due to vandalism of utility lines.
The first meeting is set for 10 a.m. Oct. 31 in the Legislative Conference Room on St. Croix. A second meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Legislature on St. Thomas.
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