Verizon striking

[SleepyatDVC]

Sorry, I haven't read the entire thread, just the first and last pages.

It just caught my eye because I just came from the doctor's office with my daughter. His phone has been out since Friday and when we were there, 2 people from Verizon were there trying to fix the problem.

The office receptionist was the one who told me that the Verizon workers were on strike. The 2 people there trying to fix the line were probably from management she told me.

I was actually surprised that they had people out making service calls during the strike.

I hope that the matter gets resolved asap for everyone's sake. I always remember a saying that went something like a true compromise happens when both parties come out of the negotiations unhappy. There are no real winners, just survivors.

 

[southie_chick]

Remember, according to some posters VZ has already removed that foolish demand to tie raises to performance. There is all of the conflicting information from those in the know on union negotiations about number of current holidays and number trying to reduce, cost of medical premiums anywhere between $100.00 per month to $600.00 per month, freeze of pensions AND the end of the company match to 401k contributions at 6%. What we keep getting is that the striking workers want what they have always had: annual guaranteed raises, free healthcare premiums, 100% company paid pensions, 6% 401K match. the full slate of holdays including MLK Day and Veteran's Day. As has been posted on here and sent via PMs, Verizon has over 100 items that they want changed in this negotiation. What we keep getting told is that these striking workers are fighting for the American middle class and the American way of life. The rhetoric continues about how much money Verizon profits and how overpaid the top 5 executives, how some exec is paid $55,000.00 per day and that money should be used to pay for the union demands.


Exactly how does your union keeping everything that it had in the last contract somehow fight for our middle class? This is a strike that represents between 1/4 and 1/5 of Verizons workers. How does this defend everyone else in the middle class?

This helps EVERYONE in our company - union or non-union - because the non-union people in the same job category get the same benefits that we bargain for. The union has also tried to get the non-union 1st level managers a better health care deal (they agreed to pay a "portion" of their heath care & every year, the company raises the percentage they have to pay) but the company REFUSED to deal with the union since they were trying to help non-union people (not many people know about this, but they wouldn't believe it anyway).

As for the "annual guaranteed raises, that's something we don't get all the time (so that would not make that annual). We have in the past (& I think we were in this contract) GIVING UP any raise - we just wanted to keep what we had. I think in the last contract, we had a 3% raise in pay (0% the 1st year, 1% the second year, & 2% the 3rd year). The contract before that, we had ZERO raises in that 3 year period. So, we've basically had 3% increase in our wages over a 6 year period.

 

[threecrazykids]

Here are the details I think some may be looking for. This is what the union states Verizon came to the table with as their original proposal.

In the first year, the medical plan premiums for a single employee would range from $390 a year to $1,420 a year, depending on the plan they choose.

For a family, the medical plan premium would range from $1,380 a year to $3,810 a year, depending on the plan they choose.

Premiums for the dental plan would be up to $185 per year for a single employee and up to $435 per year for a family, depending on the plan they choose.

Before the medical plan would begin to pay any benefits, a single employee would have to pay $1,000 and a family would have to pay $3,000.

Reduce sick time pay to 5 days per year for those members with 20 or more years, 4 days for those with 15-20 years, 3 days for those with 7-15 years, 2 days for those with 2-7 years and 0 days for those with less than 2 years

Reduce Paid Holidays to 7 (from 9)...eliminating MLK and Veteran's Day.

 

[southie_chick]

I took a 30% pay cut because that is what the going rate is for my job in this environment. It might go up in a year or two but who knows.

This is not compromising.

You could also PM me to fill me in. Think of the PM as me tapping you on the shoulder in your picket line. It will stay private and never be posted anywhere on the internet.

But it could get E-mailed to someone. Wish I could, but I've already said WAY too much about this on the board already (that's probably gonna be printed & given to management anyway), so I probably won't be posting on this topic again.
Plus, this is getting WAY too negative - I thought this board was about the happiest place on earth but people are getting WAY too angry over this - I thought this was supposed to be the budget board but there's nothing on here pertaining to that, just anger & finger pointing. I don't even know why people are discussing this here.
When this is over, feel free to drop me a PM - wish you were closer so I could tell you in person but this is getting WAY too nasty.
The sad thing is ...... NO ONE is going to be the winner. I just hope I survive this.

 

[sam_gordon]

Here are the details I think some may be looking for. This is what the union states Verizon came to the table with as their original proposal.

In the first year, the medical plan premiums for a single employee would range from $390 a year to $1,420 a year, depending on the plan they choose.

For a family, the medical plan premium would range from $1,380 a year to $3,810 a year, depending on the plan they choose.

Premiums for the dental plan would be up to $185 per year for a single employee and up to $435 per year for a family, depending on the plan they choose.

Before the medical plan would begin to pay any benefits, a single employee would have to pay $1,000 and a family would have to pay $3,000.

Reduce sick time pay to 5 days per year for those members with 20 or more years, 4 days for those with 15-20 years, 3 days for those with 7-15 years, 2 days for those with 2-7 years and 0 days for those with less than 2 years

Reduce Paid Holidays to 7 (from 9)...eliminating MLK and Veteran's Day.

Thanks threecrazykids! The medical plan doesn't sound too good, but doesn't sound awful either. I suggest union members look into the deductible (not the premium). While my family has a $3K deductible, our routine office visits (sick or well) are $25 (co-pay). ER visit is $200 co-pay. Deductible will kick in depending on what the insurance company has negotiated with the medical offices. For what it's worth, I've had family coverage for 12 years now and have never ended up reaching the full deductible. If I had to vote on whether to accept this or not, I'd need some more data.

The Holiday cut-back... eh... If I were doing the negotiating, I'd be willing to accept them in order to gain something else.

The sick days would be a BIG sticking point for me. Those offers are terrible (IMO)!

The other issue I'd be willing to fight for is job security. As I said before, even a 50% paycut is better than NO pay (if you're out of a job).


ETA: That's assuming all the above is true.

 

[undertheradar]

Those numbers look terrible on the high end estimate if the coverage estimates are correct. Dental looks high too. What could they be thinking with providing zero - 5 sick days? Holidays are what they are. If these numbers are in the ballpark, they provide better idea of why people are upset. The earlier general statements didn't provide information that would indicate that things could get much worse. As for comments about job security, who in this day and age really has it? Most live in at will states.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

About the sick time thing...there is an unwritten rule (for management anyways) that you do NOT take sick time. IMHO it's implied that it could count against you if you do. If you get sick, you take vacation time. Unless you're throwing up, you come in if you are sick unless you want to take vacation time. The only time I ever took sick time was when I had strep throat so bad that I couldn't swallow water. Otherwise, I either took vacation time or else I went to work sick. That sick time policy just looks like a formalization of what everyone knows is expected of them anyways.

 

[Judique]

Why don't you answer all of these first?

I already know my answers.

I was curious about yours.

 

[JVelasquez]

This thread has gotten really, really disheartening and should just be closed. I clicked on it when it was first started because my husband is on strike I wondered how other families affected by the strike were feeling. I thought the thread would be informational and supportive. Instead it is just pathetic and wrought with ugliness and jealousy.

I have to pay into health care, why don't Verizon workers? I don't get Veteran's day off so they should work too. My pension is gone, so I hope they lose theirs too. Why should they have all of those sick days? Why raises, why disability, why vacation, why job security, why, why....boo hoo hoo.

So nasty posters, what ever pay and benefits you currently have, if your employer came to you tomorrow and said, "okay, we're going to reduce EVERYTHING you currently have", you'd tell them that you understood perfectly you'd show up for work the next day and be happy you still had a job? Yeah, right! Or, you'd just quit if you didn't like it, right? Because you are just so darn employable, so, so superior to the 45,000 Verizon workers. Oh, you don't have a job at all? Yes, of course misery loves company and your life will be so much richer if the Verizon workers have crappy benefits.

So 45,000 middle class families are on strike right now. Worried about the uncertainty of their future and about providing for their families. Worried about how long the strike will go on and how they will pay mortgages and car payments if weeks stretch into months...THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT!

This is one of the BEST posts on here!!!! Some of these people really make angry... And we ALL know they would be singing a different tune if this was happening to them. My mom is on strike right now, she has worked for Verizon since before it was Verizon. I know she is scared about how long this strike will last and so am I bc I don't want to see her struggle and I know that financially I can't help her. Good luck to you and your family and all the families affected.

 

[JVelasquez]

Oh please, noone has asked you to feel sorry for them. And it is not that Verizon workers "MUST still get it", but it would be pretty ridiculous to not WANT to still get it. There are negotiations going on which means give and take. In the end Verizon workers will give to some extent, and everyone knows and accepts that. Again, it is a NEGOTIATION process and sorry if you are po'd the you can't negotiate with your employer. BTW I am on this thread because I am affected by the situation, but why exactly are you spending your time here, and why are you so getting so worked up?

Yes Sam_Gordon why are you here and so upset????

 

[sam_gordon]

Yes Sam_Gordon why are you here and so upset????

If you read the thread, you would see I already answered that question.

 

[undertheradar]

I already know my answers.

I was curious about yours.

Well, I'll put mine up there after you provide yours. These are your questions.

 

[sam_gordon]

About the sick time thing...there is an unwritten rule (for management anyways) that you do NOT take sick time. It will count against you in your review if you do. If you get sick, you take vacation time. Unless you're throwing up, you come in if you are sick unless you want to take vacation time. The only time I ever took sick time was when I had strep throat so bad that I couldn't swallow water. Otherwise, I either took vacation time or else I went to work sick. That sick time policy just looks like a formalization of what everyone knows is expected of them anyways.

In my opinion, THIS is a perfect example of where a union should step in and protect their workers.

 

[undertheradar]

Here we are 31 pages in and still the answer hasn't been provided to this question. How does your strike against Verizon defend the American middle class and our American way of life? I provided the details of what is the norm in benefits in my house, how does Verizon providing the same as it has been in prior years defend my American way of life? This is the statement that has been repeated over and over and I fail to see how the striking 45,000 receiving fully funded medical premiums will continue the middle class for the rest of us. I understand that it will allow the 45,000 striking employees to continue exactly as it has been but fail to understand how you are fighting for the rest of us.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

In my opinion, THIS is a perfect example of where a union should step in and protect their workers.

The union may not be held to that same standard re: the unwritten "sick time" rule, though. I was union at one point, but it was a long time ago. I was management for much longer. I can only speak for what was expected of us as managers...everyone knew that taking actual sick time was a big no no even if it was never formally presented as such.

 

[lisaross]

I am not wishing other people's situations to worsen at all. What I am "hoping" is that the price of healthcare etc is rising and at some point, employees should contribute. Why should the employer's keep taking the hit on these rising costs all the while giving the employees a raise year after year despite poor performance? I think you may have misread my post. I am not unhappy with my situation at all. I think I receive a very fair salary and compensation package for what I do. I am happy for other people and I don't think I'm standing in the way of other people's happiness or glory. Just because I don't agree with the union demands doesn't mean I don't want you happy. Sorry, but I think people should get raises based on performance. I think that employees should contribute something to their healthcare. I don't see anything wrong with companies decreasing their match in a 401K. Nor, do I see 8 holidays as opposed to 11 a travesty. What I see is a union saying, I don't care if the economy is tanking, I don't care if all these benefits cost my employer more and more year after year. I want what I have always gotten, I don't want to make concessions and that's that.

That's all well and good in a black and white world. This is not. When the economy is flourishing, the management in the company does well and is rewarded with bonuses. We are not. We are in the spotlight right now because the economy is doing poorly. Perhaps we should be in the spotlight when the economy and the company are doing fantastic. A lot of it is because of us, (for the company) and we receive no compensation. But I suppose that’s fine.
In my company, the jobs are extremely subjective. How are they to be judged? By the number of installs or repairs we do, or by how many of them bounce, or by how much our manager likes us. I know, how about all of the above. Except there is one small problem with this. Every installation and repair is different. They can take 5 minutes or up to 2 days. Who would get which jobs? Every time a customer calls in there is a trouble report on the line that makes it look like the job bounced even if it is the customer calling in to give a compliment to the excellent work of the technician. And last but not least, the managers are not held to any standard. Many of them make it very personal, and either like or hate the workers. They give the easy jobs to their friends and torture the workers they dislike. This has been an unfortunate part of our culture. I couldn’t imagine how excited some of them would get if they found out that they had control over our raises.
In the past we have sacrificed high raises so that we would not have to pay for our medical benefits. If we have to now, then that means that we are so far behind the curve because we should have been at a higher salary to begin with. Our salary is quite modest.
If you want to compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges many of my friends work for the city, the state, or the federal governments. They all start with 4 weeks’ vacation the 1st year and get their 5th week on their 5th year. We start with 2 weeks then get our 3rd after 7 years then our 4th after 15 and then finally our 5th after 25 years. We have no sick time to bank or get paid for if we don’t use it. And we have already lost 1 holiday a few years back.
What I have been hearing from most of the people is their takes based on Verizon’s spin on the pending contract. Propaganda has always been a useful tool, and I find sheep very easily swayed by it.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

That's all well and good in a black and white world. This is not. When the economy is flourishing, the management in the company does well and is rewarded with bonuses. We are not.

Do you mean "team awards"?! Those were in place of raises when I was there. The union got raises. We got "team awards," and lousy ones at that. Maybe things have changed since then, but the "bonuses" that we got stunk. They happened once a year in place of a raise and they weren't anything to write home about.

 

[lisaross]

I know you are saying that you would cross the picket line for your family and that is great. However, you may not realize that after the strike is over the union can and most certainly WILL come after you for the money that you made while you crossed?? I worked for Verizon in PA and in NJ. I saw them do this to a woman that had crossed the picket lines. A widow with 3 kids no less. If you sign that union card and cross the picket lines, the CWA will come after you for the money. She was losing her house because of the union. It wasn't the company doing this to her, it was the CWA. I had only been working there 2 weeks when I heard about this. I had already signed the card before finding out about this. I was horrified.

I quit Verizon when I moved to another state. Six month later I got hired by Verizon in my new state. This time when the union steward came into our training class with her little union cards I told her "NO WAY" and why. I still had dues deducted from my pay because it is a closed shop, but I was not a union member. I still think about what the union did to that poor woman and her children all those years ago.

So, if they signed their union card, they may not be able to keep the money they earned if they cross.

My friends and I were offered to go into management a few times. A couple of them took it, the rest of us were afraid to lose the union protection. Thank g-d. Verizon laid the managers off. The big bad bullying union saved our jobs.

 

[lisaross]

Do you mean "team awards"?! Those were in place of raises when I was there. The union got raises. We got "team awards," and lousy ones at that. Maybe things have changed since then, but the "bonuses" that we got stunk. They happened once a year in place of a raise and they weren't anything to write home about.

Wow, now that is justice. Now we see how truly subjective this issue can be. From my stand point at the time when I hadn't 1 hour of OT in years, I was so jealous of the managers getting 10k to 40k bonuses. And you say they stunk. I suppose that maybe stones shouldn't be cast until we've walked in the shoes of others.

 

[m&m's mom]

Honestly Verizon sounds so horrible a company, I cannot imagine why y'all are even fighting to keep your jobs there.