What do you think about this strike? It seems the sticking points do not relate to your job functions directly. You don't have the no layoff clause and headcount has already been gutted since being pulled in(not voting in), 7.5% is not great but is decent...what else are YOU fighting for? I'm asking because we don't hear from your side, we hear from the Core perspective.
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I was MCI. We were forced into the union as part of the VZ merger. We were used as a bargaining chip. We didn't get a chance to vote "yes" or "no" to becoming union. I would have voted "no." I have plenty of personal, philosophical, and political reasons for not wanting to be part of the union, but thats another story for another time. I went along and honored the last strike, in which the CWA had the company over the barrel, but yet they came back early and left the company off the hook. When the strike vote came around this time, I voted "no." The company was ready this time. I am not going to be a lemming and give blind loyalty to an organization that I didn't want to be a part of in the first place, who screwed the pooch in the last negotiations, and who didn't get my approval for this strike. So, call me all the names you wish...doesn't matter to me...there are plenty who feel the same way...
As one of those 590 VzB techs, I can tell you a bunch of us are sick of this situation. We were tricked into joining the union in the first place back in 2008, as a result of the contract negotiation at that time. We were told we had to either join the union, or resign, those were the 2 options. Nobody I know even wanted to join, we thought we had to in order to keep our jobs (which we later found out is not true). I was perfectly happy with my non-union pay, benefits, relationship with the company and my supervisors. Everything was great. But the CWA said since we did the same work as the union employees, Vz had to throw us under that union umbrella as well.
That's why I resigned from the union. I don't want any part of this battle, it has nothing to do with me. And the fact that the union tricked us into joining in the first place left a bad taste in my mouth. Why would I go on strike, forfeit my paycheck, healthcare and benefits, for something that I never wanted in the first place, and to fight someone else's battle?
And yet, here I am, considered a 'scab' and dealing with the backlash of all the union people for not fighting their battle.
VZB techs are United and Stand Together. If it was ever put up to a vote, ALL would vote in the affirmative to accept. The Unions have lost VZB grievances since 2008 and have NEVER taken a position to change the contractual language in bargaining. It is fundamentally wrong and anti-democratic that 38,400 Core Employees vote on the working conditions for the 600 VZB Employees.
"No one's crossing"??? I'm working alongside 3 guys who crossed or never went out. You are misinformed.
United We Stand
(In the dumpster. Where trash belongs)
VOTE OUT MC ADUMBS. $18,000,000 down the fkng drain.
None of your Business Company troll...No one's crossing. United We Stand.