It is all posturing. Meanwhile the customer experience here is horrid. unacceptable to me as a shareholder.
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Lowell McAdam doesn't want to negotiate, that's the last thing he wants. Lowell has bigger dreams. He wants to be an Icon, maybe a Wall Street Icon! (Who knows, maybe even The Presidency?). School children will be tested on remembering his birth date. The crushing of the Union is his first chance to test his metal and, he hopes, will lead on to a path of glory. Alexander The Great, Lowell McAdam, names stamped into history. He salivates at the thought of overrunning the Union hordes. For Lowell McAdam, Sir Lowell McAdam, this is a holy war, a Jihad. The Union barbarians will be laid waste, opening the way for Sir Lowell to fulfill his destiny. Maybe he dresses up at night as Napoleon, visualizing himself as a Crusader of freedom? Whatever his delusion, he needs a villain to thwart. Ahhh, the Union boyz 'n galz, step this way? Whatever is going on inside that head of his, seems to me he's spoiling for a fight. Union has been wise, very wise, to deny him thus far. He WILL NEVER WILLING NEGOTIATE after all, he has a destiny to fulfill.
The existing network sputtered to a crawl in two weeks back in august 2011. DOn't let anyone tell you different. The entire time we were told we were "keeping up with calls,troubles,EVERYTHING!" It was pure propaganda straight from your favorite CEO's mouth. When we called for help they sent us attorneys in skirts and suits from DC to "assist as needed" in troubleshooting HICAPS in the field. Epic failure. The unions should have stayed out longer in 2011 but they played nice-nice with the company instead of going after a better contract for their members. So to say that "we can handle it" is quite arrogant but the brass here has always spouted off in meetings and in the media. Also, nobody is buying this heap of shit telcom plant w/o a labor contract in place. Look for an LBFO to come from the company to the unions by mid 2016. It would be easier to sell off with no unionized employees here at all. And that sort of logic is right up LM's alley.
It's all posturing.
Welcome to Frontier....
I am but a mere 2nd level but was assigned to a small meeting with an executive operations vp. On the VZ totem pole he is in the top 25. When negotiation talk came up he said " let them strike, we can handle it." Since he obviously got this opinion from Lowell or Shammo .... It made me believe the company won't budge on any items up for negotiation and Lowell welcome a strike. Lastly landline has a better chance of being completely sold off before any contract is settled
"the existing network could run by itself for months without any noticiple interruptions" Are you kidding me, lets get a clue about the plant before we comment. Weather is the biggest factor when it comes to trouble reports. The company decided years ao that they wanted nothing fixed, just hit and run.
FbJsbu6-sqm, You are totally incorrect. The repairs are Not caused by previous human error, rather they are caused by this billion dollar company ignoring the network or forcing techs to do a "quick" job just to make the #s.
Rtr....lol. I can't believe there are actually people falling for your bs. You see claims throughout this web site of people being called a "corporate shill", but there are shills on both sides it seams. There was no....repeat no management employees specifically staffed for a supposed strike. Either all EWA's are called, or none at all.any manger that worked during the holidays, was already staffed due to their own current work schedule. If there were a strike, this company would not collapse in the time it takes to pull in its resources, otherwise it would need to be constantly staffed 24X7 for the if chance there were a walkout. Remember, not counting for weather related, more than 90% of repairs are due simply to previous human error. Without human intervention, the existing network could run by itself for months without any noticiple interruptions.
There is no use in talking, when nobody (Union or management) is listening.
There will be no lockout period.
There will be no strike, unless VZ implements there latest and greatest (so called) proposal.
The Union will not get a contract as good as what they had, so they do not intend to strike.
(IMHO)
Happy new Year to all.
Scrooge never showed an ounce of compassion to the poor and destitute when asked to contribute to helping them.
"At this festive season of the year, Mr Scrooge, ... it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir."
"Are there no prisons?"
"Plenty of prisons..."
"And the Union workhouses." demanded Scrooge. "Are they still in operation?"
"Both very busy, sir..."
"Those who are badly off must go there.
Looks to me like Scrooge ONLY found redemption when MADE to do so. Maybe like rtr has it right? Scrooge's was made to see his selfish ways and that made him change, not sitting cozy and warm in his night shirt and bed cap. If it worked for Scrooge maybe rtr has a point about locking both sides in a room and feeling some discomfort?
The Jackson Lewis attorneys with the vz brass knock on the conference room door and ask the union negotiating teams of the union has agreed to lowells terms.
The union negotiators, of course, say no we have not.
The door closes.
The same scenario repeats day after day.
The company is making a mockery of the process.
Ask yourselves why the FMCS has not been called?
The company is a hair away fro locking the union out.
The unions are a hair away from striking.
Why no FMCS to look at this?
I know why!!!!
If the speculation was that something was afoot for Dec. 28th, and Christmas Eve / Christmas Day are on Dec 24th / Dec 25th, why did you have to miss Christmas? Couldn't you catch a flight to be back from wherever it was your wife went, by Monday? BTW, sorry your Christmas was ruined, but wishing ill will on others for it, others who mean you no harm, is not good.
BTW, I do not understand your comment that people don't learn from being told. Seems to me that almost our entire school system is based upon oral teachings that you're maintaining no one can learn from. What's the point of warning your child about strangers or crossing busy streets if these lessons are pointless?
I'm OP. I am not saying that they (both sides) should miss Christmas. And if -rtr had to stay on standby because of a post here about the 28th. Then your upper management are just idiots. Really -relying on anon info posted here for a staffing decision. Just stupid.
The point is we have not had a real update - from either side - since Thanksgiving. At the very least , as dues paying union members , we are entitled reasonable updates and truthful information .
So RTR, you're wishing upon others a mistreatment that you feel you suffered? Eye for an eye? May you see three spirits tonight and, perhaps, come morn, you'll send a Christmas Goose over to the negotiating teams.
No way should senior vz management & senior Union people be allowed the privilege of having
Xmas/New Years with their families. Due to someone initiating a blog on this website stating point blank the union had called for a walkout on the 28th I and 9 of my management colleagues were put on notice to standby. While my wife went off Xmas eve to spend our planned Xmas visit with family I sat home alone. There is nothing more miserable than spending Xmas alone and instead of telling others not to be Scrooge mwe take responsibility and spend New Year's Eve by yourself? BY YOURSELF. DO IT. Then perhaps you will realize people don't learn from being told, we learn from doing and emotional growth and understanding come from suffering, not from shoving another piece of pumpkin pie into your mouth. Watch how quickly Verizon and Union begin to see each other's point of view when locked in a room together with creature comfots that consist of a bucket to piss in and a cold cup of coffee. You! mwe are so so wrong in what you stated about all of us are entitled to Xmas. Nothing, BUT nothing will change these blind stubborn fools on both sides without the soles of their feet be held to the fire.
I know its old news, however, I thought Lowell was directed to bust the union at any cost. Is the strike off the table due to the fear that those striking would be reduced and replaced with contractors? I am betting the pensions are the number one target of vz. My question is, if they don't strike, how long will the stalemate go on?
Seated at both sides of the table are men and women who may have children at home. Even if they do not, why shouldn't they be able to share the holidays with their loved ones? They and their families deserve this.
OP, don't turn into a Scrooge. We all need to show a little more compassion towards one another.
Supposedly the meeting between Lowell, and the 2 union higher ups Mooney and Shelton did take place to get negotiations moving. I have not heard the outcome. And with the little info we do get, we probably won't.