Thread regarding Verizon Communications Inc. layoffs

"We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately", thats what Benjamin Franklin said at the signing the Declaration of Independance. F@#$ mcadam and his last best offer, lets dress up like indians and dump it in the Boston Harbour

Danville will be sold after the strike.

OP,I have a clue where you are as I am also from a smaller VA area and am having the same struggles. I have decided to get some part time work to fill in the financial holes. I am hopeful that this will be settled soon. I don't want to have to look over my shoulder the rest of my career. There may come a day when difficult choices will have to be made. That day has not come yet. My preference is that we all go back together. Hang in there if you can.

PBJ - Big Man! You sound like a great person. One of those tolerant liberals that have forgotten how to be tolerant.

F--- your church. How does anyone here expect logic from people posting about magic and fairies? KooKoo town........

Since VA is a right-to-work state, this sounds accurate. You can resign from the union and stop paying dues in RTW states. And you would still be considered legally part of the "bargaining unit", so yes, you would be covered under the new contract. There is a name for this type of person-freeloader.

Get it in writing. Company has dementia

Kmi, thank you for the reasoned response. On this site it's usually nothing but a bunch of trolls on both sides seeing who's insults are better...

That is exactly what I am struggling with. I worked non union with VA for two years before joining the union, I know how it is on both sides. It is not much different. At least it wasn't in 2008ish.

To the poster of the letter, thank you. I see that I got a copy in a fed ex mailer...never opened the mailer, figured it was BS from the company so left it to sit on my desk.

You need to consider what you will gain in the long run. There are several questions you will want to consider. Would you really want to continue to work for Verizon without any option to go the union if your manager decides to pull you up on BS reasons? Do you really trust that management will always what is right? Is your work experience solid so that you would be able to transition to another position or another company? If your answers to these questions are yes. Then cross. If not don't. You need fight for your job security. You will only be able to consistently provide for your family with a secure job-not one where it just disappears after a few years.

Below is from a letter Verizon HR sent on April 15 (this is the whole letter, just cutting out extra spaces):

April 15, 2016

East Wireline Associates:

We want to answer questions some of you may have regarding the option of working during the strike.

Should you work during the strike?

All union-represented employees have the legal right to work during the strike if they so choose.

We respect the personal choice each individual must make in this situation.

What if I choose to work during the strike?

Associates wishing to work will be permitted to do so, although not necessarily at their usual work

location or performing usual work tasks.

Any questions you may have regarding assignment locations or duties if you choose to work during

the strike should be directed to your supervisor.

Can the union fine me if I work during the strike?

Yes. If you choose to work, it is important to know that you can be fined by your union under

certain circumstances. You can avoid union fines by resigning your union membership before crossing

the picket line or working. Resigning from the union is an individual choice and your ability to return to

work will not depend on whether you resign your union membership.

If you are not currently a member of a union, then the union cannot fine you and you have no

membership to resign.

If I resign my union membership, will I lose any rights?

You will not lose any rights covered by the collective bargaining agreement, such as seniority or

anything having to do with your pay, benefits, or tour or vacation selection, to name a few. You

will lose rights granted by the union constitution such as voting in union elections or on

ratifying the labor agreement.

If I choose to resign my union membership, how do I do so?

To resign, send a resignation letter to an appropriate official of your union local. You should

send it certified mail and keep a copy of that letter for your records. Check the union

constitution or bylaws to make sure you follow proper procedures for submitting the resignation.

Sincerely,

Karyn Stetz

Vice President—Human Resources

Last poster here. I do understand your stress but if at any point in time we need to stick together it's now.

We have what we have because people stayed out. How this turns out I don't know but it's day 29 not 129. That's a slap in the face to them who a lot of are retired and are on fixed incomes. Go to the union before making a decision to cross. What if we are a week away from settling this with a better contract and enough people cross to negate that effort.

Scab is a meaningless slur. I have higher obligations than your belief of what's moral and what's not. My family comes first, then myself, then my church, then my community. The union is down the line farther than that. In VA it just doesn't matter like it does up north.

To the poster asking about my location... I'm in a smaller town I VA, that's about as much as I'm willing to say.

Get riffed scabby

What location, it's anonymous

A scab is a scab, if you don't have a spine or morals then become a scab... if you have integrity and believe in the fight, last one more day then the company expects us to... hang in there you are not alone there are thousands of us...

Work together? Stay on strike together? That's as if I tell my child friend jumps off a bridge will you too? Be a leader not a follower. Do whatever you want or need to do!

it is all true and is what was sent out in mail before.

OP, your coworkers are correct.

Verizon sent out letters about this, you should've gotten one.

You have to resign from the union (they tell you how). Then contact your manager. You may be assigned to another location to work, temporarily until the strike ends. But you will get every benefit of the new contract, except maybe the negotiated back pay, though since you ate working you'll get more than whatever the back pay turns out to be. Usually $500/week.

Whatever you decide, good luck. I hope you cross though.

Virginia is Right to Work. So what those guys are saying? It's all true.

I am not a Union employee, and I- like many others- cannot wait for this strike to end. I have no idea the answer to your questions, but I do want to say that I appreciate your questions/concerns. So many smart asses on this site and you're just looking for honest answers. This strike is hard in many ways for so many of us whether it's financial, health care, working OT in a different state, etc.. It bothers me that many union members are so angry and mean to other union workers who just want to work and earn an honest living, but are bullied into not crossing the line. I wish you good luck.

I don't care if you don't believe me, I just care about all the options available to me.

Anyone know anything or do I get just the union fundamentalists cheerleading BS?

"In VA half my garage is back to work already. "

We've heard that one already from all the garages in all the states but the strike is still going on somehow.

You wouldn't really post a question expecting a serious answer on this board, would you?

It won't last much longer. We are all in the same boat. Don't be selfish. Work Together! Stay on Strike Together