CWA MEMBERS RATIFY NEW THREE-YEAR CONTRACT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 1996

CWA MEMBERS RATIFY NEW THREE-YEAR CONTRACT

Arlington, VA - A new three-year agreement with the Bell Atlantic
Network Services Companies has been ratified by the Communications
Workers of America (CWA) by an overwhelming majority.

The ratified contract, which covers some 34,400 union-represented
workers, follows a tentative agreement reached between Bell Atlantic
and the CWA Jan. 25.

"We've come a long way over the past months," said Tyler
Williams,
Bell Atlantic vice president for labor relations. "I'm delighted
we
resolved differences and achieved a consensus that benefits both the
company and our employees,"

Highlights of the agreement include:

• 10.6 percent wage increase (11.0 percent compounded) over the
  life
  of the contract, with 3.3 percent effective Dec. 31, 1995; 3.6
  percent Dec. 29, 1996, and 3.7 percent Dec. 28, 1997;

• $1,500 ratification bonus;

• Corporate profit sharing with a standard amount of $300 a year for
  1996 and 1997;

• Team-based incentive pay of up to five percent of base wages with no
  base wages at risk;

• Employment security measures and an Enhanced Income Security Plan;

• Pension band increases of 12 percent over three years for future
  pensions, continuation of the pension cashout trial through 1998,
  and a four percent pension increase for current retirees;

• A new retiree health care plan with no employee contributions before
  the year 2002.

In a separate contract, the CWA also gained representation of
technical workers in Bell Atlantic Communications and Construction
Services, Inc., in the southern portion of the Bell Atlantic region
(Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware and the District of
Columbia).

Bell Atlantic Corporation (NYSE: BEL) is at the forefront of the new
communications, entertainment and information industry. In the
mid-Atlantic region, the company is the premier provider of local
telecommunications and advanced services. Globally, it is one of the
largest investors in the high-growth wireless communication
marketplace. Bell Atlantic also owns a substantial interest in
Telecom Corporation of New Zealand and is actively developing
high-growth national and international business opportunities in all
phases of the industry.

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for more information, contact:

Paul Miller, 804-772-1460
miller@ba.com

Eric Rabe, 215-963-6531
rabe@ba.com