Thread regarding Verizon Communications Inc. layoffs

My sense is that this strike was called to benefit a small portion of the union - those who already have a lot or who work in areas that should go away (like 2-4 people in a nearly deserted call center) So I do feel bad for the newer workers who don't have their homes paid off, have real expenses and limited savings.

I don't feel bad for those who damage equipment, or are rude and threatening.

The Union missed the forest for the trees in this one. It's all about what you can get - I win/you lose - outlook among some strikers.

So sympathy for some, but not for others.

Well... Considering that a fair number of the shouted threats have involved raping family members...

It's making it very hard to have any sympathy for the union/striking workers.

Most of the union membership isn't like this - they know how barbaric and really disfunctional that behavior is. And I think that group feels powerless against the louder, more violent members. But FYI, those outspoken, threatening union members are absolutely demolishing the reputation of the union.

Whatever, this is probably falling on deaf ears.

Ridiculous. Get a grip on reality. We make far less than you do, yet here we are by force working to save our own jobs at the expense of our own mental health and "family values." If you don't want jobs outsourced or transferred, quit making ridiculous demands. I have no sympathy. Get to work.

Union members are worthless!

Now that I've seen firsthand the disgusting behavior of this group of "co-workers", I have no problem with it at all. I don't even view them as human any more because they are acting like a pack of wild animals. It's true what they say about pack mentality. Though some may be reasonable on their own, when they group together they all devolve to the lowest common denominator. It's sickening to even look at them. I've seen decent men and women lose their moral compass and are now tied together with the lowest group of common thugs and criminals. If this is the way they represent the company, then they have given up any place in decent society.

I feel bad for the 80-85% of union employees who were forced to be out there, forced to walk in circles and chant mumbo jumbo, forced to stay out there out of fear of crossing to put food in their families' mouths and suffering the wrath for it. I hope the remaining 20% get caught, fined, and fired for vandalizing property, harassing their co workers who crossed out of desperation, and for overall just being lazy, fat, incompetent workers. The 80 plus% do not need all kinds of performance stipulations in their contract because they come to work and do a great job, the observations, metrics requirements, etc. are forced on all because again of the bottom feeding 20%. We all know who they are, every center and garage has them. They usually have the loudest voices and the are usually pointing the finger at everyone but themselves - zero accountability for their own actions. Bottom feeders! We miss the hard workers, they are the front line and no replacement workers can replicate that.

Here's my honest answer to your question. I actually thought that my union workers were smarter than this. The company waited months for the union to walk out. The union played right into the companys hands. Seeing how stupid these people turned out to be makes me sick to my stomach. If they ever do come back, if, in which they never had.

I look at it as trying to save your jobs (and ours). Wireline is in decline as POTS / DSL customers find alternate providers. In the C O the disconnects far outweigh the installs. Having a disruption in service is only going to accelerate the loss of customers. Less customers equals less employees.

Youre not our brothers....but Im fine with it. Im absolutely sure you wouldn't risk your jobs for us and we wont risk ours for you.

I didn't have any opinion of the union workers before this whole thing. After having them disrespect, wish injury and harass us on the job I don't give a f--- about them, their families or their future. There's really valuable work taking place out here and its unfortunate that they allowed union leadership to steer them in this direction.

ppq: you obviously don't have all those things if you're working a 70k union job. Sorry, but it's the truth.

Screw "my Union brother" you guys need to get off your lazy ass cross the line and get back to work you misarable low life.

I am NOT a brother to the union scum. I've never known a more repugnant,disgusting, illiterate bunch of people in my life. I was neither pro-union nor anti-union before this strike. Live and let live you know. But now, I'm disgusted by the utter trash of the union workforce. It's revolting to even look at them out there walking in circles and chanting like some demented herd of sheep. I wouldn't take the time to spit on one if they were on fire now, and I seriously hope Verizon remains strong and stays the course. Replace the mangy animals with someone who at least knows how to function like a human being in public.

Right now I feel pretty stuffed on the company dime, and the $$$ is sweeeeet...How's your cat food tasting, Morris? Feel the Bern....DERP

What a bs artist !!

HleoMrs-qhf

What part of the country are you working and what job are you performing that you are more productive than 2.5 union guys?

I was rooting for the Union until I saw how they acted then brag about harrassing people at Hotels....pretty pathetic.

"your experience in this field is not super difficult to learn. "

Four weeks into this strike, I've been told by my supervisor that I am producing at a rate equivalent to 2.5 union employees doing the same job. That is pretty sad considering I am brand-new in this position, and honestly don't feel like I'm even trying that hard. The contractors coming in next are definitely going to perform even better than I do (I have worked with some already, and they are definitely more "with it" than me in this field) so I have a feeling that our employee headcount is going to drop notably to produce the same end result.

HleoMrs-zfu

No they won't because sadly most will be let go by then. Sad but true.

it will be funny if you guys does this again on next contract negotiation. The company will have vast number of people who will be ready to work with all of this training.

Please go for it

wbx- all those things you have ( advanced degree, certifications, experience), I HAVE too but difference between you and me is I don't say I am "privileged" and I care about all Americans as a whole who are getting screwed everyday by corporate America. No way you can tell me that this millenial generation is doing better than their parents, they are way behind in economic security than they should be. Won't matter how educated you think you are, you are too expensive because you're American.

Brothers? My brother would never treat me the way NY is treating their Management coworkers. You have a beef, fine, educate me. How does harassment get justified in your head as a way of getting what you want? How is that any better than the greedy VZ? Your battle is not with management or wireless, yet those are the people you go after. It just does not work the way you want it to anymore. Like it or not, tell me you slept with my wife, call me names, whatever. Doesn't change your plight. I am not sure it matters anymore. I think that the union just might get royally screwed this time around. I would love to see a thread where each side listens to the other, but there is always a jackass that tries to derail.

feel just fine.

Every morning I just feel sorry to see folks with pickets to earn 200 strike money per week. It's the same feeling when I see homeless. I get some of what you want but I don't agree.

Within 3 days, I was able to work most of tickets myself. Probably because I used to work in the similar field and still work with Ops a lot?..huh?...your experience in this field is not super difficult to learn. That's why a lot of EWA folks from IT, finance, HR can handle with some practice...Hell, some does better job than you guys.

I am comfortable with what I get with this EWA. Good Bye...You guys are history.

FIRST OF ALL YOU ARE NOT MY UNION BROTHER. YOU DONT GIVE A sh-- ABOUT MANAGEMENT AND NOW AFTER SEEING HOW ALL YOU LOW LIFE CRAFT ACT LIKE ANIMALS I DONT CARE ABOUT YOU AT ALL. STAY OUT GO FIND A JOB ELSEWHERE.

I feel fan-freaking-tastic! A job is a privilege, not a right. I feel privileged to earned a nice paying job at VZ. And before you say, just wait until the RIF's, I busted my assto get where I am now, and the education/degrees/certification I have can get me employed anywhere. Because I worked hard for it. I didn't have some high paid liberal talking head fight for me. I went out and fought for it myself. It's called the American Dream. It still exists, contrary to what the union and socialist Liberal's preach to you.

This is how I feel: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

nothing! Just get to work and make yourselves usefull

I'm an at will employee. I can leave without retribution and I can be fired tomorrow without any retribution. Pensions worked when the average age was 65 but since that average has continued to escalate pensions became impossible to finance. End of story.

Let me know how that walking around in circles works out for you.

How do you feel about forcing people away from their families and regular life, so you can pout and attempt to obtain better pay and benefits than the majority of the middle class?

Pensions don't exist anymore bud, and its a shame, but the reality is you're not fighting for the middle class, you're fighting a personal fight to have Cadillac medical benefits, and other handouts that will cause a ripple effect of job loss in non-bargained for shops. I don't agree with offshoring work either.

I'm an hourly employee myself , I don't lead people, I was to!d either come to ewa or lose my job without severance. I'm doing this for my family, why the hell would I support some archaic ideology and lose my job so you can have yours? Just come back to work, so we can go back to forgetting about you and what you want at least for the next 3 years.

I feel great. I thought it was ridiculous that you people walked out because they asked you to pay for your healthcare like the rest of us.

I don't have sympathy for entitled, narcissistic people.

I feel fine. You chose to go out or your leaders did. Blame them for you misfortunes. Now you will have no job come impasse on 5/20. What did you do for the mangers who were RIFFed? Nothing at all probably cheered. So march on to the unemployment line . I'm local management and know my job well,EWA people are learning fast. Contractors are coming Monday. Good bye.

Failure to report for EWA results in termination. The only one undermining the union is its own leadership which failed to gauge Lowell's resolve to win this fight. A fiasco really, as mediation would have been a good option and was offered before the strike began.

You act like we have a choice. We don't. It's either do it or get fired.

I'm crying thou$$$$$ands of tears.

False premise. Union folk aren't our brothers. We have no solidarity with you, you hold non for us.