I agree that the union has skilled individuals that allow this company to grow and be successful. I also agree that those individuals deserved to be compensated like you would an electriction or plumber. It's a skill that you master after years on the job.
That being said I don't agree paying someone $35 an hour to pick up a phone and be rude to the customer. Not help them or grow the business. Do everything to avoid doing thier work and using the union to protect them. That's were I despise the whole thing. The techs are skilled workers that have been thru a lot and deserve the respect and compensation they earned. This is coming from a manager on EWA.
Telling you now this is why the call center jobs will be eliminated since anyone can do it. Doesn't take much to take a payment or look at an account. It's what the website does but no website can come out and repair your line when it's out.