Several days ago, over 45,000 unionized Verizon employees in Delaware, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Virginia walked off the job to protest cuts and concessions Verizon management wanted their employees to absorb.
Ironically, it is only in these states that the Communications Workers of America has unionized strongholds. Verizon employees in other areas of the U.S. are not unionized and should they walk off their job, they would no longer have it. There are approximately 135,000 non union Verizon employees.
The majority of the workers that have gone on strike are what are known as 'land line workers.' With the ever increasing use of mobile phones, the land line is slowly becoming obsolete. However, Verizon does admit that it is not totally independent of its land line workers, but Verizon wants to change the benefits they provide that date back to a time when there was little to no competition in the industry.
Verizon workers on strike have harassed, threatened, obstructed and in one location a BB gun was fired, at management and non-union workers who are crossing the picket line. In New York City, they surrounded a U.S. mail truck just trying to make its normal delivery. In Albany, NY, a worker who crossed the picket line was pushed in to some scaffolding resulting in an arm injury. Verizon states that there have been over 70 incidents of sabotage. Even 911 service to selected areas was interrupted. Striking workers deny the accusations.
With the picketing leaning towards unnecessary violence and interference, Verizon has sought court ordered injunctions that will limit the amount of picketing at each location and how they do it. Unions for the striking Pennsylvania and Delaware workers have already been served with the injunctions, with others pending.
So you ask, "what's their beef?" Here are some of the points that have stalled negotiations at the bargaining table;
Verizon wants employees to start paying a partial premium amount for their family's health insurance policies. Almost 99% of employees in the nation who are lucky enough to have health insurance, pay a monthly premium. What are unionized employees paying now, you ask? NOTHING. Non-union Verizon workers already pay a monthly premium. Union spokesmen claim that in these tough economic times, this is an undue burden on their workers. Verizon claims that health care costs have sky rocketed and they can no longer absorb it. It's time that workers came in line with the rest of its employees.
Verizon wants to temporarily freeze pensions for its present workers, but the company is willing to enhance 401-K plans. Verizon wants to eliminate future pensions.
Verizon wants to change the 1963 Work Rule - which is an antiquated rule requiring 2 people on a service call in NY, most notably in a neighborhood known for its violence. Now that particular neighborhood is one of the safest in the city. Sending 2 people on a service call is not cost productive.
Verizon wants to limit paid sick days to 5 per year instead of the unlimited amount they are receiving now.
The argument union workers are making is that Verizon is a very solvent company that pays its higher echelon officers exorbitant salaries and the company can afford to continue providing reasonable wages to its workers.
Verizon touts itself as "America's largest and most reliable wireless service." While I can say that I feel some sympathy for the employees of Verizon who will have to make some kind of sacrifice if they want to go back to work, I can't help wondering why they would even strike in such a negative financial climate. No doubt, they're getting paid some of that unlimited sick time.
Many of the non-union workers have been cross trained, specifically for situations such as this, so the jobs are being covered, albeit with over-time. With so many people out of work, how much sympathy and solidarity will these striking workers get when Verizon starts hiring from the pool of people that are practically begging for a job? I know I would not hesitate to cross that picket line if I were desperate to feed my family and pay my bills.
I can't help wondering how this will effect the Obama administration. Democrats are notoriously pro-union, with unions donating millions to their campaigns. What percentage of that huge donation comes from workers union dues? Unions need that money and have been known to bulldoze their way in to businesses where they're not wanted. In fact, in this particular case, the unionizing was rejected several times, even after the rules were changed. That's right, if you don't like the outcome, change the rules and try again.
In another lifetime, I once had a positive opinion of unions, but now....they just muddy the waters between politics and worker's rights. Who are they really looking out for?
Ironically, it is only in these states that the Communications Workers of America has unionized strongholds. Verizon employees in other areas of the U.S. are not unionized and should they walk off their job, they would no longer have it. There are approximately 135,000 non union Verizon employees.
The majority of the workers that have gone on strike are what are known as 'land line workers.' With the ever increasing use of mobile phones, the land line is slowly becoming obsolete. However, Verizon does admit that it is not totally independent of its land line workers, but Verizon wants to change the benefits they provide that date back to a time when there was little to no competition in the industry.
Verizon workers on strike have harassed, threatened, obstructed and in one location a BB gun was fired, at management and non-union workers who are crossing the picket line. In New York City, they surrounded a U.S. mail truck just trying to make its normal delivery. In Albany, NY, a worker who crossed the picket line was pushed in to some scaffolding resulting in an arm injury. Verizon states that there have been over 70 incidents of sabotage. Even 911 service to selected areas was interrupted. Striking workers deny the accusations.
With the picketing leaning towards unnecessary violence and interference, Verizon has sought court ordered injunctions that will limit the amount of picketing at each location and how they do it. Unions for the striking Pennsylvania and Delaware workers have already been served with the injunctions, with others pending.
So you ask, "what's their beef?" Here are some of the points that have stalled negotiations at the bargaining table;
Verizon wants employees to start paying a partial premium amount for their family's health insurance policies. Almost 99% of employees in the nation who are lucky enough to have health insurance, pay a monthly premium. What are unionized employees paying now, you ask? NOTHING. Non-union Verizon workers already pay a monthly premium. Union spokesmen claim that in these tough economic times, this is an undue burden on their workers. Verizon claims that health care costs have sky rocketed and they can no longer absorb it. It's time that workers came in line with the rest of its employees.
Verizon wants to temporarily freeze pensions for its present workers, but the company is willing to enhance 401-K plans. Verizon wants to eliminate future pensions.
Verizon wants to change the 1963 Work Rule - which is an antiquated rule requiring 2 people on a service call in NY, most notably in a neighborhood known for its violence. Now that particular neighborhood is one of the safest in the city. Sending 2 people on a service call is not cost productive.
Verizon wants to limit paid sick days to 5 per year instead of the unlimited amount they are receiving now.
The argument union workers are making is that Verizon is a very solvent company that pays its higher echelon officers exorbitant salaries and the company can afford to continue providing reasonable wages to its workers.
Verizon touts itself as "America's largest and most reliable wireless service." While I can say that I feel some sympathy for the employees of Verizon who will have to make some kind of sacrifice if they want to go back to work, I can't help wondering why they would even strike in such a negative financial climate. No doubt, they're getting paid some of that unlimited sick time.
Many of the non-union workers have been cross trained, specifically for situations such as this, so the jobs are being covered, albeit with over-time. With so many people out of work, how much sympathy and solidarity will these striking workers get when Verizon starts hiring from the pool of people that are practically begging for a job? I know I would not hesitate to cross that picket line if I were desperate to feed my family and pay my bills.
I can't help wondering how this will effect the Obama administration. Democrats are notoriously pro-union, with unions donating millions to their campaigns. What percentage of that huge donation comes from workers union dues? Unions need that money and have been known to bulldoze their way in to businesses where they're not wanted. In fact, in this particular case, the unionizing was rejected several times, even after the rules were changed. That's right, if you don't like the outcome, change the rules and try again.
In another lifetime, I once had a positive opinion of unions, but now....they just muddy the waters between politics and worker's rights. Who are they really looking out for?
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