Fwd:Rumor has it that our soulless employer is sending out a certified letter which will offer you your job back as a non union position. Looks like an attempt to effect our ability to collect unemployment so don't sign for it. Via my picket captain
42 replies (most recent on top)
@1cda I'm a realist. I don't walk around with my head in the sand thinking I'm invincible because I'm a member of a Union. I realize that our industry is dying and wireless margins will continue to shrink, just like the long distance wars. The company really has no use for the Union or it's members, but will gladly hire us on as contractors so that they can have the flexibility to manage a workforce. Something that anyone with any business sense knows is crucial. So continue to think the Union is going to save us all and don't be surprised if you're not working for a subcontractor in a few months.
@1cda do you work OT? Do you take the money? I want to work OT. I want the money and there are many in my garage who feel the same way. I don't want to give up my OT so that the idiots who took us out can get paid more. This problem with OT is made up by our CWA leadership not the rank-and-file.
@hzq
Do you think less union people means more or less influence? Do you think it will be harder to get a fair contract with less or more people? Do you think when you retire less union people will be able to keep your benefits? If you really are a union member, wake up, fighting is the only choice.
@1dkf You do realize the Union really doesn't care about you, me , or our families right? The only reason they don't want the company to be able to transfer us temporarily is because they want the company to hire more people. More people means more dues coming in and that's what the strike is all about, protecting the Union's declining dues. I, for one, wouldn't want to go to Boston for 2 months, but I would have to make the decision what to do when the time comes. I'm a big boy and can make that decision on my own.
Outside tech here. We support ALL our union brothers and sisters in the call centers. Don't listen to this guy he's probably a fake , designed to wear us down.
Nobody is talking about "call centers" being the reason for the strike. Not once have I heard that. We are picketing everyday in NYC at Verizon wireless locations
In my location we had so much work they forced OT a lot as well as loaned people in. We all know they can manipulate the work flow sometimes. Next big push is Boston and that's the plan for sending us out of state- so they don't have to hire new
I have 17 years in a call center as an operator. Verizon has targeted my office. I am going to lose my job if they close my office. I only need 5 years to retire. To those of you who work outside and don't care about the call center people: I can tell you that every single operator in my office would support you. I would never close the door on my fellow brother or sister. I would NEVER EVER CROSS THE PICKET LINE. NEVER! I'M sure verizon is trying to break our union. Every striker is suffering at this point and your family is no different from mine. Im sorry.....but I have no sympathy for you. YOU CROSSED THE LINE!!! SHAME ON YOU! I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU ARE TRUSTING THOSE LYING BASTARDS AND TURNING YOUR BACK ON YOUR PEERS! Id rather lose my job fighting for our rights then cross the line. Verizon is lying to you. How can you not see that? People like you are the reason why corporate greed is winning. You would rather bend over and take it up the ass then fight for what is right! Well, i'm not willing to get in line with "everybody else" and take it up the ass I'm SICK TO DEATH of the rich blaming everything on the poor!!!!!! It's disgusting! It's the super rich that is destroying our way of life! Why can't everyone see that? Get some balls!! Take the dick out of your assand fight for yourself and family! Good god!!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU???
I am cable maintenance with 10 years to go. I crossed after 3 weeks, didn't want to, but had to due to obligations to my family. I have always supported the union, but family comes first. I can tell you we are working troubles that are only two days out now. I don't know about fios, but have been told contractors and ewa's are doing installs, no clue on how far behind they are. I am extremely worried for the 4 guys that are still talking to me at work. The rest of the guys wouldn't piss on me if I was fire but oh well. I have to say the EWA's at my location are extremely cool/smart and although they will never do this long enough to get proficient, they are trying and really aren't doing to bad. (Lot of Voice Link fixes). The general consensus and feeling from talking to all the first level management is my co-workers are about to be replaced after the 20th. I have seen numerous contractors in pick ups doing the construction side of splicing. The company knows all the placing/splicing can easily be contracted. I truly believe we are on the verge of a total remodel/restructuring of our side of the business to mirror image the cable companies. My union brothers scoffing at contractors need to realize there are so many of these guys that have done installs for the cable companies, Dish, Directv, etc, they are going to do just fine with plug and play fios installs. Verizon played it's cards perfectly this time. I felt this was coming for years. I believe they will end up having a few in house "network techs" in each area and contract out the rest. This time is different. Verizon is done with the union.
You proved the Company's point. There is not enough work for your garage so they want work force flexibility and in return they will give us job security. Bang, you will be closer to the 10-years that we need.
Am I the only one who sees the Forrest thru the trees?
@lgj- our jobs are just as expendable, I'm in a garage with 60 guys. We're left home on du's, even with 6 out on temporary disability, and they only have enough work for 45 of us 4 out of the 12 months of the year. Guys are doing open plant, door knocking and the like. This is a dying industry, the majority need ten years and we're either all getting or none! Otherwise cross now if you can't deal with it, BUT I WON'T!!
Man, you guys don't know anything about labor law. The offer doesn't change anything and those in eligible states WILL get unemployment.
20 year lineman here, I realized from the start we were out because of the call center issue. They kinda, sorta, still need us, but they are dying to lose the call center people. We are all in it together, I'm fighting for every Union member at VZ. If the ship goes down, I'll go down with it, not crossing, would never consider it. Hopefully we all come through it ok.
The EWAs are not hacking it. In fact they complaining loudly about it now that this has gone on for a month. They bitch that they were not hired to do these jobs, and they want to go back to their families
The repeats are through the roof, jobs are getting closed out just for the sake of closing out and moving on to make a day of it
When Lowell wakes up to this then maybe we will see a contract
That is real bright @dlq. Go down because a bunch of people answering the phones have priced themselves out of a job and our leadership was too f*&king stupid to see the writing on the wall 10+ years ago. As outside guys we add value. VZ needs us. The call centers do not add value and are expendable. Just because some of them are in buildings with other workers doesn't mean jack squat and VZ ain't gonna hire more of them into those empty centers. Bet your last dollar on that. Get a clue. We won't get there with the same mentality of people thinking flipping burgers deserves at least $15 an hour. Just because we are in a union doesn't mean we automatically get to ignorantly disregard economic facts. You don't want to finish career, you want to stupidly lose your job over people answering the phone. This greedy corporate meme has no legs. It is a loser. It isn't getting us anywhere. If we get screwed over the call centers there is going to be hell to pay by the leaders is this frigging union. They are morons for sacrificing our outside jobs because of the call centers. Morons.
Still a rumor. Don't answer the door. Let the postal worker leave a note to pick it up. Then if this becomes reality we deal with it then. Those on the verge of retirement may need to pull the rip cord & get out with what you have.
GO OVER YOUR FINANCES NOW - LIFE ALTERING DECISIONS MAY BE COMING SOON.
@ciw- these call jobs are HUGE! If we all can't finish our careers then none of us will. I'm an outside guy but I won't sacrifice the inside people!
well said @hon. time to cross the line and back into the building
You are nuts @hon. Some of us have families to feed. Jobs like ours with good pay don't grow on trees. You'd be a fool to think so. We've been played. Choose your own Alamo but I'm not sacrificing my family getting worked up about albatross call centers hanging around our necks. This union has lost its way.
Here's the thing, they may very well be job completing us. But if any want to go back and continue working under worse and worse conditions go ahead! I will not, I'd rather start over at some place that values their people and the work they do, FAREWELL VERIZON!!
damn CWA has blown it. BLOWN IT. my Sups been clueing me in all along. told me there are some real smart EWAs in our shop from Texas. they've gotten up to speed on FioS installs real fast and can do more in a day than many guys in our garage. every day we're out it only get worse for us. enough already.
And who are you? Some arrogant, overpaid 1st liner koolaid addict. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. This has a long way to go.
Hate to tell you all...this is most certainly an economic strike. Even Mooney said it was. The replacement workers...the ones who will be replacing YOU...are being trained the very moment you read my words.
Make no mistake. This is not a scare tactic, just the truth. You stay out, you are not coming back. The union is history at Verizon. This is the CWA/IBEW swan song. Whether you remain a Verizon employee now is completely up to you.
At least after the company gave union the last best final offer, this strike becomes a economic strike. The NLRB will evaluate whether it is a economic strike or ULP base on the fact not base on union's imagination.
filing ULP is CYA for Shelton/Mooney/Trainor. hail mary pass.
It was also after the fact that vz got all gestapo and basically shut down negotiations with their extreme lbfo. All while the unions were still drawing up offers to save the company $.
Vz also offered Federal Mediation, which union rejected. Another bad PR move.
@win -- that was after the fact, after the strike was in progress. It will be hard to prove ULP on the Unions part. VZ has been at the table every time and have offered an excellent package. Call centers, etc. those are management items and the NLRB likely will not side with the Union on those matters. VZ has the right to close call centers, garages and offer moves to people. If they don't want the move then VZ offers an exit package. VZ has the high ground on this one.
Desperation move. Will have no effect, waste of money.
CWA filed an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB for VZ not bargaining in good faith. Not economic.
Mooney himself said it was an economic strike on his May 9 conference call.
Not surprised, and if you do sign it, be prepared to be treated like a Filipino sweatshop worker if you do.
Follow your picket captain off the ledge. Your pay can cover the pay of someone who wants to work.
@cks. This is not an economic strike. Just because Verizon offered a wage increase does not make it so
We should get unemployment as they've placed replacement workers in our jobs. And that is what unemployment is for, we paid into it so we can use it!
CAN EMPLOYEES BE REPLACED DURING A STRIKE?
Yes. While you do have a right to strike and cannot be fired for striking, you can be replaced. In addition, if you engage in an economic strike, you would generally become an "economic striker."
As an economic striker, your employer is legally allowed to hire a permanent replacement to fill your job. As/if you and/or the union call off the strike, you are not entitled to your job back until a vacancy occurs. Instead, you would be placed on a preferential rehire list and may return to work only when an opening occurs.
All is fair in love and war, and this is definitely war. The company has no intention of losing so they're pulling out all the stops.
I am not sure about the rules and process but since the Union members voluntarily left the company and have not returned to work and as the company has offered its LBFO I would think that at some point they can say 'come back now or don't come back at all'.
As long as it is legal, who cares about it against the rules.
Thats bypassing bargaining process
Against the so called rules
Take the deal you poor dumb bastards. Leadership is driving you over a cliff.
Shouldn't be eligible for welfare when you walked off job anyway. That's called milking the system and is a slap in the face to those that truly lost their jobs and need that help. Just cause it's legal doesn't make it right.