Verizon striking

[threecrazykids]

I am actually Lisa’s husband, the Verizon worker. I’ve read some of the posts and was sincerely disappointed in the closed minded miserable people. Please let me begin by stating what the REAL situation is.
Verizon wants to freeze our pensions. Now to those of you who don’t have one and seem to be jealous of anyone that might, let me explain that for the last 19 years of my life, my family has lived in the belief that retirement is a reality. For those current retirees, they can never get an increase no matter what percentage the cost of living goes up. So in other words “Screw you grandpa!”
Verizon’s health care plans have sincerely deteriorated over the years forcing us to take lesser ones. I know those of you who have to pay for it now says that we should be paying anyway. Well misery loves company. There is not one person on this board that wouldn’t want and love to have it paid for them. Don’t be jealous; be grateful that there is still a company that can set a trend for you. And how many of you would willingly accept a 10 % decrease in salary (compensating for the cost of health care).
The company also wants to eliminate our sick time, our overtime benefits, some of our paid holidays, job security and MY FREAKEN TITLE! The company allowed me to spend 4 years of my life earning the title with the understanding of keeping the increased salary and pension until my retirement, and then my pension. There are many other take backs as well.
I keep on hearing that unions are destroying the country. The whole idea of the union is to protect a middle class job and keep us from poverty. Did anyone who believes that unions are destroying the country realize that only 7% of the entire country is still union. That’s because of the “ME” mentality. Stop being jealous of people that have that shows what a small person you are.
I am proud to say that I have personally made a lot of money for Verizon as an installer. Verizon is a very profitable company. They made 5 ½ BILLION last quarter. My problem is that they are sending these profits overseas to pay for their bad investments. Don’t take it out on the hard working workers who actually earned the profits. The company has been sabotaging the customers by ignoring their needs and cutting off supplies. This is fact.
The only reason that I am posting this is because my wife told me a few of your comments and I felt it necessary to correct you. The union is not evil. The workers are not greedy or primadonas, and all we want is to continue our lives in the same comfort that we’ve worked hard for. I invite your comments.

As a fellow VZ employee I will start by saying I pray for all of you every single day. I hope more than anything that both parties are able to come to an agreement. The problem I have with this fight from the union side is I hear NOTHING as far as concessions. I, along with thousands of other Vz employees watching your IBEW/CWA facebook page (as I'm sure you're well aware) and all I read are people saying they deserve this, that this is owed to them, etc. That is where my sympathy starts fading. The mentality that this is owed to you gets under the skin of the people who are unemployed. Why should you be owed this job anymore than the other 20% of the people who have already lost their jobs from VZ? People who actually paid towards their healthcare, had NO pension, didn't have 100% tuition reimbursement, dependent care and countless other benefits? What about them?

Your defense is probably something along the lines of "well, clearly they need to get union protection". Please understand that not every job in America is protected by the union. Not all jobs are bargaining unit jobs.

These people all thought they had job security, titles, and healthcare benefits. But the reality is, it's not guaranteed. No matter how much these people would have begged, bargained, etc. their job was gone.

So, I guess the only option then is to get angry, threaten the family of whomever let you go, terrorize the people who ARE left in the company, and sabotage the very company that you work for by using every tactic in the book to try to attempt to hurt Verizon, but also the customers?

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I GET what you are fighting for. I respect your right to fight it. However, I really hope that when everyone in the union has to make that choice to feed their family, or walk themselves bankrupt that you choose your family over the union, because honestly...you and I both know that VZ is done playing games. And they have not only the money but also the power to put all of you out of a job...and they will.

 

[JVelasquez]

I am actually Lisa’s husband, the Verizon worker. I’ve read some of the posts and was sincerely disappointed in the closed minded miserable people. Please let me begin by stating what the REAL situation is.
Verizon wants to freeze our pensions. Now to those of you who don’t have one and seem to be jealous of anyone that might, let me explain that for the last 19 years of my life, my family has lived in the belief that retirement is a reality. For those current retirees, they can never get an increase no matter what percentage the cost of living goes up. So in other words “Screw you grandpa!”
Verizon’s health care plans have sincerely deteriorated over the years forcing us to take lesser ones. I know those of you who have to pay for it now says that we should be paying anyway. Well misery loves company. There is not one person on this board that wouldn’t want and love to have it paid for them. Don’t be jealous; be grateful that there is still a company that can set a trend for you. And how many of you would willingly accept a 10 % decrease in salary (compensating for the cost of health care).
The company also wants to eliminate our sick time, our overtime benefits, some of our paid holidays, job security and MY FREAKEN TITLE! The company allowed me to spend 4 years of my life earning the title with the understanding of keeping the increased salary and pension until my retirement, and then my pension. There are many other take backs as well.
I keep on hearing that unions are destroying the country. The whole idea of the union is to protect a middle class job and keep us from poverty. Did anyone who believes that unions are destroying the country realize that only 7% of the entire country is still union. That’s because of the “ME” mentality. Stop being jealous of people that have that shows what a small person you are.
I am proud to say that I have personally made a lot of money for Verizon as an installer. Verizon is a very profitable company. They made 5 ½ BILLION last quarter. My problem is that they are sending these profits overseas to pay for their bad investments. Don’t take it out on the hard working workers who actually earned the profits. The company has been sabotaging the customers by ignoring their needs and cutting off supplies. This is fact.
The only reason that I am posting this is because my wife told me a few of your comments and I felt it necessary to correct you. The union is not evil. The workers are not greedy or primadonas, and all we want is to continue our lives in the same comfort that we’ve worked hard for. I invite your comments.

I am so happy to see this post!!! My mom is currently on strike. She has been working for Verizon for many years and I myself have worked for them as well. I can not believe what they are expecting her to give up. And I have to say that some of these people out there who are posting on this thread make me sick!!!! I hope that an agreement can be reached quickly and you can all return to work. Good Luck!

 

[ilovemk76]

I am actually Lisa’s husband, the Verizon worker. I’ve read some of the posts and was sincerely disappointed in the closed minded miserable people. Please let me begin by stating what the REAL situation is.

I have not posted but this certainly made me sympathetic to your situation.

Verizon wants to freeze our pensions. Now to those of you who don’t have one and seem to be jealous of anyone that might, let me explain that for the last 19 years of my life, my family has lived in the belief that retirement is a reality. For those current retirees, they can never get an increase no matter what percentage the cost of living goes up. So in other words “Screw you grandpa!”

You do realize that many pension plans are written this way. This is why one must save for retirement to replace the buying power of their pension in the future years. What would you do it Verizon goes belly up in 10 years?

We save for retirement before we take a vacation to WDW or any place else.

Verizon’s health care plans have sincerely deteriorated over the years forcing us to take lesser ones. I know those of you who have to pay for it now says that we should be paying anyway. Well misery loves company. There is not one person on this board that wouldn’t want and love to have it paid for them. Don’t be jealous; be grateful that there is still a company that can set a trend for you. And how many of you would willingly accept a 10 % decrease in salary (compensating for the cost of health care).

Jealous! Hardly. That is the typical argument. This economy has cut mine and DH's salary and our health cost have increased. We make retirement and health care a priority, so we cut out other wants. That is what you will have to do when you lose your job or when you lose a benefit or when our taxes are increased.

The company also wants to eliminate our sick time, our overtime benefits, some of our paid holidays, job security and MY FREAKEN TITLE! The company allowed me to spend 4 years of my life earning the title with the understanding of keeping the increased salary and pension until my retirement, and then my pension. There are many other take backs as well.

Who cares about a title. Many don't get paid for overtime but have to work it. Also many companies lump sick days, some holidays and vacation days into one pool. Everybody I know who has this loves it as they get more days off when they want it. If you are never sick, or can work then you can save that day for another when you just want a day off.

What paid vacations do you get right now? Which ones do they want to eliminate?

I keep on hearing that unions are destroying the country. The whole idea of the union is to protect a middle class job and keep us from poverty. Did anyone who believes that unions are destroying the country realize that only 7% of the entire country is still union. That’s because of the “ME” mentality. Stop being jealous of people that have that shows what a small person you are.

Unions are not destroying the country but anybody who thinks they are entitled to _____ are. Some are in unions, some are on public assistance and some are in non-unions jobs.

I am proud to say that I have personally made a lot of money for Verizon as an installer. Verizon is a very profitable company. They made 5 ½ BILLION last quarter. My problem is that they are sending these profits overseas to pay for their bad investments. Don’t take it out on the hard working workers who actually earned the profits. The company has been sabotaging the customers by ignoring their needs and cutting off supplies. This is fact.

I am glad you did you job to the best of your ability. Your number is wrong. They made over 1 billion less in profit last quarter.

Did you take a pay cut last year when their profit went down by almost 50% over 2009? Of course not. They can only negotiate when it is a contract year. Had this been 2010 your argument would have not come up. They are basing the next few years on the projections of profit. I am not a Verizon analyst, so I don't know what is expected of the company in the next few years. BTW neither are you. Past performance can be but in not always an indication of future performance.

The only reason that I am posting this is because my wife told me a few of your comments and I felt it necessary to correct you. The union is not evil. The workers are not greedy or primadonas, and all we want is to continue our lives in the same comfort that we’ve worked hard for. I invite your comments.

So it is OK for customers rates to go up, to keep you in your comfort, but cost them their comfort? What do you have to say to them?

 

[herdtoDisney]

Actually, they are asking to get out of the gov't mandated health and pension programs because they think they can get them elsewhere cheaper. Plus, they are looking to cut 120,000 jobs.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...th-care-plan/2011/08/11/gIQAZxIM9I_story.html

Yeah, I saw that. Fact is, there isn't even a 'pension program'-all employees hired since the mid-80's have been enrolled in the Federal Employee Retirement System, which is a defined contribution retirement plan (NOT a pension). I PAY into my account (people hired before that are on the Civil Service, but like I said that hasn't been enrolled into for decades).

I also pay towards my health insurance, it's not free. Not sure where they think they'd get it cheaper than Blue Cross Basic, and I don't live where they offer dental.

So, don't take the article at face value because it contains inaccuracies. It's not a union vs mgt thing either-we are all scared

 

[Swimalie]

Yeah, I saw that. Fact is, there isn't even a 'pension program'-all employees hired since the mid-80's have been enrolled in the Federal Employee Retirement System, which is a defined contribution retirement plan (NOT a pension). I PAY into my account (people hired before that are on the Civil Service, but like I said that hasn't been enrolled into for decades).

I also pay towards my health insurance, it's not free. Not sure where they think they'd get it cheaper than Blue Cross Basic, and I don't live where they offer dental.

So, don't take the article at face value because it contains inaccuracies. It's not a union vs mgt thing either-we are all scared

My husband is a federal employee, I'm aware of the benefits. The FERS does require paying in to the account but it also comes with a matching. That makes it similar to a pension.

I don't know where the USPS thinks they will get cheaper health insurance either. Even though we pay quite a bit in to ours, I love the health portion. The dental is horrible. It pays $17 of an exam and nothing on root canals, crowns, etc. It's pretty much not worth it.

My husband's office is also on a pay freeze (for 2 years like all employees), hiring freeze and Reduction in Force. Some will be let go, some will be transferred, some will retire and not be replaced. So it happens to everyone.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

Why should you be owed this job anymore than the other 20% of the people who have already lost their jobs from VZ? People who actually paid towards their healthcare, had NO pension, didn't have 100% tuition reimbursement, dependent care and countless other benefits?

Management doesn't get 100% tuition reimbursement anymore?! Dang, that was the ONLY reason that I stayed at VZ for as long as I did. It wasn't even reimbursement...they paid 100% up-front when I got my grad. degree. I only ever paid for books. That was an awesome benefit but SO few of my fellow managers in my group ever used it Even fewer of the craft employees in my garage used it Crazy.

Also, what is with several posters saying that management isn't getting paid overtime for strike duty? Is that actually true? We got paid overtime in the last strike. NO WAY would I work strike duty if I wasn't being paid overtime.

 

[herdtoDisney]

My husband is a federal employee, I'm aware of the benefits. The FERS does require paying in to the account but it also comes with a matching. That makes it similar to a pension.

.

We were just told that they would no longer be paying our match They are going to default on the prefunding thing too. Don't ask me what happens after Sept 30 when the money's gone

eta-I am referring to the USPS, not FERS as a whole

 

[sam_gordon]

I am actually Lisa’s husband, the Verizon worker. I’ve read some of the posts and was sincerely disappointed in the closed minded miserable people.

What is your definition of "closed minded"? If anything like mine, it's someone who's not willing to see the "other side". Basically "I know I'm right, I don't care what you say." How'd I do? Sound like anyone else (hint: maybe those who walked off the job?)

Please let me begin by stating what the REAL situation is.
Verizon wants to freeze our pensions. Now to those of you who don’t have one and seem to be jealous of anyone that might, let me explain that for the last 19 years of my life, my family has lived in the belief that retirement is a reality. For those current retirees, they can never get an increase no matter what percentage the cost of living goes up. So in other words “Screw you grandpa!”

Please clarify. Someone mentioned in one of the threads that VZ is going to a 401K system INSTEAD of the pension. Is that true? Also, my pension got "frozen" about a decade ago. All that meant is the company wasn't putting any more money in it. I STILL get my pension money that I earned before that time, AND the 401K that I've put into and the company matches. Is that the case with VZ?

Verizon’s health care plans have sincerely deteriorated over the years forcing us to take lesser ones. I know those of you who have to pay for it now says that we should be paying anyway. Well misery loves company. There is not one person on this board that wouldn’t want and love to have it paid for them.

You're right. I'm sure everyone would love to have 100% health insurance. Our point is simply that that's not realistic.

Don’t be jealous; be grateful that there is still a company that can set a trend for you. And how many of you would willingly accept a 10 % decrease in salary (compensating for the cost of health care).

Set a trend? Yes, I'm sure because one DIVISION of one company gets these things, it's a trend that all other employers will soon follow. I'm sorry, but the TREND started LONG ago... VZ's wireline union members are just now following it.

The company also wants to eliminate our sick time, our overtime benefits, some of our paid holidays, job security and MY FREAKEN TITLE! The company allowed me to spend 4 years of my life earning the title with the understanding of keeping the increased salary and pension until my retirement, and then my pension. There are many other take backs as well.

Would you please give us some specifics? How many sick days did you have and how many do they want to take? Same with the holidays & OT. My understanding of labor laws is if you work more than 40 hours in a week you get OT. Are they taking that away?

I keep on hearing that unions are destroying the country. The whole idea of the union is to protect a middle class job and keep us from poverty. Did anyone who believes that unions are destroying the country realize that only 7% of the entire country is still union. That’s because of the “ME” mentality. Stop being jealous of people that have that shows what a small person you are.

I don't feel unions are destroying the country. I simply don't think they're fighting the right fight.

I am proud to say that I have personally made a lot of money for Verizon as an installer. Verizon is a very profitable company. They made 5 ½ BILLION last quarter. My problem is that they are sending these profits overseas to pay for their bad investments.

But how much of those profits has your division brought in? Is it true the wireline division is losing money?

Don’t take it out on the hard working workers who actually earned the profits. The company has been sabotaging the customers by ignoring their needs and cutting off supplies. This is fact.

I've been a VZ wireless customer for two years now. They have better service then their competitors. I haven't felt my needs be ignored or supplies cut off. Do you have any specifics?

The only reason that I am posting this is because my wife told me a few of your comments and I felt it necessary to correct you. The union is not evil. The workers are not greedy or primadonas, and all we want is to continue our lives in the same comfort that we’ve worked hard for. I invite your comments.

Unfortunately I don't know if that's possible. In 2009, we were forced to take furloughs. Our annual bonus was $0 (after years of being a weeks pay). Did we like it? No. Did we wish it didn't have to happen? Yes. But the bonus, like the benefits you are complaining about losing are not GUARANTEED (unless in a contract). That's what I think union members don't get. Now, if you feel you need the above benefits in order to be a productive worker, feel free to find somewhere that will give you those.

Again, I don't hate unions and they have every right to walk out. If I felt the demands VZ were unreasonable or unrealistic, I'd side with the strikers. In this case, I don't. Now, feel free to convince me VZ is being unreasonable or that the union is willing to compromise and maybe I'll change my mind. I just haven't seen anything along those lines yet. Please, give us details so we can see how "unreasonable" these "demands" are.

 

[melmar136]

This was posted on a friend's Facebook wall, and I thought I would share:

Dear Friends,


Today 45,000 Verizon employees received their last paycheck until this strike is over. We understand that in this economy everyone should be willing to give up something for the betterment of our country’s financial welfare. We are more than willing to bargain with Verizon to come up with a fair contract for everyone involved. We are not asking for anything more than what we already have and have had for years!



Verizon has placed ads in papers & on television telling you that they just want us to pay for a portion of our health care insurance premium cost and listing various salaries that we should be thankful for. Verizon has failed to publicly mention the 99 other items they would like for us to give up or that these salaries and benefits that they are posting are inaccurate. It takes a unionized Verizon worker 25 years to gradually earn the amount of vacation time that is in these ads!



Verizon has told you that their land line business is failing, yet they fail to mention that that very business is the backbone network of their FIOS, DSL & Wireless operations. They want you to think that there is no need for a land line because they want their FIOS & DSL to be classified as “internet or data” instead of exactly what they are: land lines. Every cell tower connects to a land line network. Without Verizon’s land line business they would have no wireless business!



Verizon fails to publicly mention that they want to begin increasing the outsourcing of American jobs to other countries by removing all aspects of job security from the contract, to freeze all pensions for current workers and completely eliminate them for future employees, slash sick time, eliminate disability payments for injured workers, eliminate holidays (including Veteran’s Day) and completely gut health care plans for current & retired workers.



Despite making $19.5 billion in profits and paying out $258 million to it’s top 5 executives in the last four years, Verizon wants to take back more than 50 years of collective bargaining and destroy middle class jobs, just like many of the other large corporations!



The President of Verizon makes $55,000 a day, how much does the average American worker make per day?



Verizon has paid $0 in federal corporate income taxes over the last three years, how much has the average American worker paid in federal income tax?



Verizon received nearly $1 billion in tax benefits from the federal government (your money) over the last three years, how much has the average American worker received in tax benefits?



You ask why the workers would be going on strike when we’ve been spoiled and should be thankful we have a job in this economy? I believe what you should be asking is why aren’t there more American jobs being created by American companies? Why are companies being allowed to outsource their jobs when American production is at an all time low and we all know that we cannot grow as a consumer only country! We must produce products here in the United States of America.



We are on strike for all of you, not just ourselves. The middle class stands to lose everything while corporations and a few individuals gain it all. We walk the line for you!



We understand that we may have to give up some things that we have had in the past, but we should not have to give up everything including our job security! All we are asking is for Verizon to sit down and bargain with the people that helped build it. It’s time to bring jobs back to America and end corporate greed!



Sincerely,



A very frustrated but ON STRIKE American Worker



Kim

 

[melmar136]

One could say the same for the striking union workers. Perhaps when they come to their senses they will see how greedy these union demands look to the rest of us and our loved ones. Since the union walked out, I wasn't aware that Verizon didn't allow the union employees to report for work.

Actually, Verizon walked away from the table. And no,some employees actually could NOT return to work. Before they left work on the Friday before the strike, their keys to trucks were taken, and the key cards to access buildings were deactivated.

 

[melmar136]

As a fellow VZ employee I will start by saying I pray for all of you every single day. I hope more than anything that both parties are able to come to an agreement. The problem I have with this fight from the union side is I hear NOTHING as far as concessions. I, along with thousands of other Vz employees watching your IBEW/CWA facebook page (as I'm sure you're well aware) and all I read are people saying they deserve this, that this is owed to them, etc. That is where my sympathy starts fading. The mentality that this is owed to you gets under the skin of the people who are unemployed. Why should you be owed this job anymore than the other 20% of the people who have already lost their jobs from VZ? People who actually paid towards their healthcare, had NO pension, didn't have 100% tuition reimbursement, dependent care and countless other benefits? What about them?

Your defense is probably something along the lines of "well, clearly they need to get union protection". Please understand that not every job in America is protected by the union. Not all jobs are bargaining unit jobs.

These people all thought they had job security, titles, and healthcare benefits. But the reality is, it's not guaranteed. No matter how much these people would have begged, bargained, etc. their job was gone.

So, I guess the only option then is to get angry, threaten the family of whomever let you go, terrorize the people who ARE left in the company, and sabotage the very company that you work for by using every tactic in the book to try to attempt to hurt Verizon, but also the customers?

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I GET what you are fighting for. I respect your right to fight it. However, I really hope that when everyone in the union has to make that choice to feed their family, or walk themselves bankrupt that you choose your family over the union, because honestly...you and I both know that VZ is done playing games. And they have not only the money but also the power to put all of you out of a job...and they will.

Wow, you have sure changed your tune since last night when you said you aren't losing any sleep over this.

Also, Verizon must not be treating the managers TOO badly this week....12 hour days and all, or else they're not very busy, because it seems there has been a lot of time to post on the DIS.

 

[undertheradar]

Actually, Verizon walked away from the table. And no,some employees actually could NOT return to work. Before they left work on the Friday before the strike, their keys to trucks were taken, and the key cards to access buildings were deactivated.

So your unions didn't walk out when the contract expired? Both sides claim the other walked out, now which one left the job?

 

[melmar136]

I am actually Lisa’s husband, the Verizon worker. I’ve read some of the posts and was sincerely disappointed in the closed minded miserable people. Please let me begin by stating what the REAL situation is.
Verizon wants to freeze our pensions. Now to those of you who don’t have one and seem to be jealous of anyone that might, let me explain that for the last 19 years of my life, my family has lived in the belief that retirement is a reality. For those current retirees, they can never get an increase no matter what percentage the cost of living goes up. So in other words “Screw you grandpa!”
Verizon’s health care plans have sincerely deteriorated over the years forcing us to take lesser ones. I know those of you who have to pay for it now says that we should be paying anyway. Well misery loves company. There is not one person on this board that wouldn’t want and love to have it paid for them. Don’t be jealous; be grateful that there is still a company that can set a trend for you. And how many of you would willingly accept a 10 % decrease in salary (compensating for the cost of health care).
The company also wants to eliminate our sick time, our overtime benefits, some of our paid holidays, job security and MY FREAKEN TITLE! The company allowed me to spend 4 years of my life earning the title with the understanding of keeping the increased salary and pension until my retirement, and then my pension. There are many other take backs as well.
I keep on hearing that unions are destroying the country. The whole idea of the union is to protect a middle class job and keep us from poverty. Did anyone who believes that unions are destroying the country realize that only 7% of the entire country is still union. That’s because of the “ME” mentality. Stop being jealous of people that have that shows what a small person you are.
I am proud to say that I have personally made a lot of money for Verizon as an installer. Verizon is a very profitable company. They made 5 ½ BILLION last quarter. My problem is that they are sending these profits overseas to pay for their bad investments. Don’t take it out on the hard working workers who actually earned the profits. The company has been sabotaging the customers by ignoring their needs and cutting off supplies. This is fact.
The only reason that I am posting this is because my wife told me a few of your comments and I felt it necessary to correct you. The union is not evil. The workers are not greedy or primadonas, and all we want is to continue our lives in the same comfort that we’ve worked hard for. I invite your comments.

I wish there was a LIKE button on the DIS. I'll give you the thumbs up instead!

 

[undertheradar]

Melmar 136, what is your position?

 

[melmar136]

Melmar 136, what is your position?

If by position, you mean at my job....I would say I am now unemployed, considering I am not getting paid by the company any longer.

 

[undertheradar]

SO you are union or not?

 

[melmar136]

SO you are union or not?

I thought that was obvious by my posts. Yes, I am union.

 

[undertheradar]

Oh, I thought you were fighting for all of the middle class.

 

[melmar136]

Oh, I thought you were fighting for all of the middle class.

The question was "so are you union or not?" Yes, is the simple answer to that. I am in a union. Didn't know you wanted to hear anything other than a simple answer. Might be too hard to understand otherwise.

 

[undertheradar]

The question was "so are you union or not?" Yes, is the simple answer to that. I am in a union. Didn't know you wanted to hear anything other than a simple answer. Might be too hard to understand otherwise.

Duh, what do you mean?