Thread regarding Verizon Communications Inc. layoffs

I am actually happy to be on strike just to get away from all that for a while. Even all the horns and yelling seems peaceful compared to the last 16 months at Verizon.

Why don't I quit? Does anyone really not know the answer to that question? How far up in the sky do you have to live to not know? That is just not a realistic option for most of us right now.

I am middle aged now with dependents, there is a very poor job market out there, and I have some years in the company. Before I leave, I am hoping to be able to reap at least some of the benefits I have worked so many years for. I think it is worth a try.

My first level told me first hand that if wasn't suspending anyone. He wasn't doing his job per the director.

@H5A1WB0-dga and you don't see non union posts as childish and with low I.Q.'s? The pendulum swigs both ways.

I forgot to mention, adding to the stress and animosity of this strike, was the campaign of harassment leading up to it.

Managers in wireline were "forced" by the company to target and suspend union workers for the most petty of infractions. The suspensions lasted 30 business days...6 weeks without pay and then the employee was placed on a 2 year final warning, any infraction no matter how petty could result in the employee being dismissed and losing what they had worked many many years for. 30 day suspensions used to be reserved for serious infractions, in the year before the strike they were handed out like candy.

A completely asinine system was imposed by the company, apparently by high level vlss managers, who did not understand the business, had never worked the job, and who seemed to think the only service verizon wireline provides is residential dial tone. Working in a major urban area, I can assure you this is not true. Not understanding the business, not believing their own employees, union or management, they imposed a ridiculous and petty system that has not really increased productivity but has in fact reduced morale, and created an atmosphere of fear and resentment.

You might think I am exaggerating, try speaking to a manager in wireline who has more than 2 or 3 years. The company put them through a campaign of harassment as well. Many managers who could afford it quit to escape the torture, others were fired for being too nice to technicians.

I have never seen the employees of our company, low level management, and union alike, more miserable than in the months leading up to this strike.

My pleasure.

For extra credit google this "citigroup plutonomy memo". The truth is out there.

One last thing; it is very stressful being on the picket line, having no money, and having your health insurance cancelled. Some people get very angry, and fearful, and the only people they can take action against are the people they see doing their work and enabling the company to last through the strike. Strikes used to be a lot more dangerous for both scabs and picketers than they are now. If you are interested, check out this article by the American author Jack London it gives a perspective of the labor movement in 1904 and explains the reason scabs were targeted by workers...

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1904/01/the-scab/306194/

Union guy, Thanks for your view point and speaking like an adult not bashing what I said, we both have different ways of looking at this but in the end we all work for the same company and want the best for all involved. I just hope this all gets settled soon.

1) A scab is anyone who performs the work of strikers. Sorry if you don't like the title, but blame your employer for "forcing" you to be a scab not the union for calling you one. Employers are always looking for a way to get scab labor and break unions. If you can say you are "forced" to be a scab, then we say we are "forced" to strike and picket. so what is your point?

2) Yes Verizon Union employees have a great medical plan, but it was not just given to us, it was negotiated over many years by workers on picket lines. We would like to keep it. We have already given back in the last contract. Now we are asked to give back again as we will be every time the contract comes up for renewal. You are right medical costs in this country are outrageous and something needs to be done about it. That is not the fault of labor unions, but of the insurance companies and big pharma. So called "Obamacare" is really just "Romneycare" it was invented by Mitt Romney. Reading between the lines of bargaining updates, it seems the Union was making efforts to compromise on this issue, but the reality is Verizon wants to break the union. I suspect this country will eventually move to single payer, and I suspect big business is in favor of this, except of course the insurance industry.

3) Pensions are far superior to 401ks. You are right again, it is true most people don't have a pension anymore, which is a shame because many people now have no way to retire. Once again though, this is not the fault of Unions. Unions can only bargain for their members not the rest of the country. 401ks benefit the financial industry. Verizon avoids paying taxes, and lobbies with alec to end social security claiming it is "unsustainable". Capping the pension at 30 years is the 1st step to getting rid of it. Most of us will not pass 30 years in Verizon anyway, that much seems clear to all of us.

4) Shifting work overseas you agree with so no need to debate, but Verizon is also planning to do "

stealth layoffs" through the transfer process. They know they can get people to quit if they transfer them far enough. I understand this has already happened in Pennsylvania.

Have you ever considered that it is not the Union workers standard of living going up, but rather the standard of living of the rest of the country going down? Instead of being angry at the Union who are only trying to advocate for their members, why not be angry at the corporate elite who take advantage of a poor job market to lower the standard of living for American workers across the board?

If your husband had worked 20 or 30 years for the company, and had a pension coming, you would want him to try and keep it right?

Things won't get better till the common people start pushing back against the owners of this country. There are more of us than them, we need to form Unions to fight back because individually we would be crushed.

"I too find it baffling that the striking Union workers are treating their first level managers so horribly. How on earth do they intend to go back to working side by side when this is over, as though nothing has happened?"

Believe me, this won't be an issue this time around.

To the original poster, thank you for taking the time to articulately explain your point of view. I too find it baffling that the striking Union workers are treating their first level managers so horribly. How on earth do they intend to go back to working side by side when this is over, as though nothing has happened? Screaming, swearing, menacing, harassing, intimidating and threatening first level managers (who are not scabs) does absolutely nothing to keep American jobs in America. Some of the behavior on the picket lines serves only to undermine the key issues behind the fight for the middle class (which the first level managers are also a part of). If the Union wants to be heard, they are hollering at the wrong people.

Same, my wife has been with the company for over 30 years as well, and like you the fear of RIF's is always there but Verizon has been good for us and when that day comes we are ready for retirement and have the money to enjoy it thanks to a PROFITABLE company that allowed for what pension we have plus the generous company match on 401.

Union it's time to grow up your comments posted shows your IQ to be pretty sorry. Drop the childish stuff.

It's amazing as I look at all the other posts, union people are all over them with stupid comments, it's apparent I said things that they have no come back for.

@H5A1WB0 Well said. These people should be thankful they have a good paying job with good benefits.

My husband has been with VZ for 35 years and the last 15 years we have been living in fear everyday knowing that it will only be a matter of time before he is RIF'ed. They should be greatful for what they have now.

To xsv: The CWA locals encourage this type of spiteful behavior. That's why everyone thinks that our Union workers are such classless dummies.

@kej you didn't address her point about union abuse of EWA workers not to mention the badmouthing of the very company that pays their bills. Telling people to drop verizon services is cutting of your noses to spite your faces.

sorry typo! but a scab is someone who willingly crosses the picket lines, believe me, my wife is not "willingly" crossing.

Like I said, I understand you want to fight, but times are different, and change is happening with or without us. Some of the keys points are valid but others are not, in the end I don't think the company is going to give and it is going to be up to the unions and if you give a little you're end up better

To ke:

A poster just took the time to share an honest perspective which is different from yours. Right away, it's a "we want this" and "we want that" rant. Get back to your hot dog lunch on the picket line and stop being a whiney baby. You have skills that can be replaced by contractors with basic training, so don't get too cocky or you will be off all summer or even longer.

Anyone who does union work during a strike is a scab (not a scap).

And it doesn't matter what the rest of the country has. We want to keep what has already been fought for. The rest of the country should fight for more. Why is this so hard for you people to understand?

Why should we accept decreases just because the rest of the country didn't have the nerve to fight for more???