Thread regarding Verizon Communications Inc. layoffs

Guys, it's hard to avoid a 300 pound picketer who jumps on, or in front of, a moving vehicle. If anyone is to blame, it's the idiot union for allowing and encouraging this moronic behavior. Think for yourselves for ONCE! And to hear union guys talk about pride in their work, etc is hilarious. Coming from the laziest, most useless set of employees in the company I find it laughable.

Just about all security guards are armed in the Philippines, as it is a hotbed for terrorism. Ever hear of Abu Sayef? The wages they make are middle to upper middle class for that country. A dollar here does not equal a dollar there, $1 is roughly 50 pesos. Sure, some people were picketing, but thats life, a large portion of the world nowadays has this huge entitlement syndrome. I talk to many reps in the PI, and most of them want no parts of a union. Enjoy gobbling up the drivel and BS your union heads feed to you. DERP.

EWA's are not Scabs! CWA guy here

Who cares whether someone calls you a scab or not. It's just a freaking word. A stupid word used by stupid people who follow a stupid useless union like a bunch of sheep. As if the union was something to be proud of. Union means follower who can't be their own man. Bunch of brainwashed people who think it's some sort of original sin to defy the union. Listen, the union is supposed to serve you, but it looks like you're serving it. How idiotic to let others make your choices for you. And you got it in your mind that someone who decides to choose for themselves is somehow wrong to do so. Ridiculous.

@foq, so based on your logic, I should be treated unfairly and called a scab becuase I need to work and put a roof over my families head, food on the table, and decent life. The OP of this thread is correct, you and I are not to blame and we should not treat eachother differently. Calling us EWA's names and getting in our faces for something that we have no control over is not how professional people act.

You sir need to rethink your post and the way you treat people. What ever the outcome is, I wish you luck. All of us just want this to be over and go to our normal lives with our families....

"Not an issue for them". Hey butt head, why were they picketing then? Forced ot without ANY compensation....sounds like they're be treated like management. Armed security hanging over them while they work...for their safety I am sure. And check your facts, $1.78 is not a good/living wage.

Op. I like your post and the demeanor of the replies is excellent compared to other threads on this site. That said I wanted to mention the low pay for the Philippines call center is low for US standards but it's a living wage over there. It would be like someone making 45-50k here. So it's really not an issue for them.

I never meet a bigger bunch of whining babies it's like a reality show. The company ows u nothing stop crying.

" My outlook on this company is forever changed"

Yep. We've seen strikes prior to this one, but the culture of abuse and vitriol that caused it in the first place has likely done irreversible damage to any chance of open communication between management and craft ever happening again on regular basis.

Anyone who does my work while on strike is a scab, managers and drunks from God knows where included. My outlook on this company is forever changed, I frankly do give a sh-- anymore. The treatment from management, Lowell to the ball-busting 1st levels has removed all respect. They gave none, I will never give them an ounce....all worthless scabs from today till eternity.

@nzz

You think the COs look like prisons? Go take a stroll in most of VZ's operations buildings. They're pathetic aside from a few. Multi billion dollar telecomm/tech giant yet house real estate office buildings that haven't been renovated since 1980.

Used to have pride in the job- especially when we did the FIOS build- we were so in to our jobs and doing such quality work- we lived fiber for several years to get the network built- then many of us went on with the same pride to do FIOS installs. The destruction of that pride and the erosion of morale really accelerated under Lowel- he and his team have no clue- they talk about Union members living in the old, outdated phone company- couldn't be further from the truth - we know where the technology is and where it is going - if there was one thing that they should have attempted to preserve from the "old company" it was pride - what kind of workforce do you think is going to return after this? I come into my garage and I am met with these big grey cages that were installed for some new program - it looks like a freeking prison- and then the way we are treated on a daily basis? Schmucks.

OP. Thank you for differentiating between management employees and contractors. While I don't begrudge anyone trying to put a pay check on their table, the EWAs are not scabs. They are doing what they are told to do to keep their jobs. They don't have (and in my opinion) don't need employment guarantees.

My understanding of the politically correct definition of scab is a union worker who crosses the line. However, I think it is cruel to label people who need to put food on the table and a roof over their heads as scabs.

First priority should be to feed, house and take care of your family. I was in a telecom union in 1993 for a year. Quit it the next year, and been doing fine ever since. Make much more money and own my own business. I call my own shots.

@umv

As management, I agree completely. VZ out her hiring drunks and posting temp jobs for techs with literally no required qualifications besides being medically cleared. The whole thing has been a joke.

Hopefully after all this is settled, Lowell is either seen the door or hangs them up and takes his cronies with him, especially that moron Marni Walden and her awful portfolio of acquisitions.

I'm ashamed of Verizon, for the first time in neary 20 years working there. Sure, there have been times when their decisions pissed me off. But like you said, we had a Code of Business Conduct and what I thought was a sense of ethics in our dealings with the public and each other.

Now we have the company blaming people on the picket line for being rammed down by unlicensed drunks! I'm appalled and disgusted. I don't care what they were saying to the drivers, there is never an excuse to use a vehicle as a deadly weapon.

That's just one example. Overall, the way this company has behaved during this strike has been disgusting. We'll be back soon enough, but my days are numbered and it's my choice. They lost both a customer and a loyal employee. I used to be proud to work for the phone company, took great pride in being able to keep people in service. Now I'm ashamed to be part of this organization. It would be unethical for me to continue to participate in this toxic environment.

From a left behind IT guy.

Good post my friend, let's hope this ends soon.

and I do hope you can keep your jobs from going off-shore.

This keeps up, even some management, might join the union on a limited basis (Job security only)