Ivan Seidenberg Confronted at Verizon Shareholder's Meeting
Ever dream of standing up in front of the CEO of Verizon and confronting him on how badly you are treated? Well, yesterday, Mass. VzB tech David Rogol got the chance! He flew to the annual Verizon shareholders meeting and did just that. He did this on behalf of all VzB techs who want to join the union. The following is his report back. Please bring this to work and share with the many VzB techs who don't get these emails.
My Confrontation with Seidenberg
by David Rogol
Forfeiting three vacation days with my family, I flew to the Annual Verizon Stockholder's Meeting in Lincoln, Nebraska on May 1, 2008.
The whole point of the trip was to have an opportunity to stand behind the mic during the Q&A period and ask Seidenberg some very pointed questions.
"In our current culture of corporate greed," I said, "where management considers me just another 'body' instead of a 'human being,' I'm convinced that, at Verizon, the only way my family's livelihood will improve is with a union." A spirited applause then broke out from stockholders and about 30 Nebraskan CWA/IBEW members present. "Mr Seidenberg," I continued, "I'm here on behalf of the hundreds of Verizon Business techs who are fed up. I'm here on behalf of hundreds of Verizon Business techs demanding a voice at work. Our morale is low. Our frustration is high." Then I posed the following two questions:
"After all we've been through at Worldcom, why, compared to our unionized counterparts, does Verizon continue down the low road compensating us Verizon Business techs with considerably lower pay and lower benefits? What are we? Some sort of third class citizens?"
"Why don't you take the high road, put all this increasing animosity behind us, and recognize our union based on the card check process? After all, Verizon allowed a simple card check with customer service reps in 2000. Why not us?"
Looking at me straight in the eye, Seidenberg's canned response, as expected, was that he would like us to obey the law and follow the NLRB process because he doesn't want "to take the right to a private vote" away from the workers.
After the meeting was over, I wished I offered to have the American Arbitration Association come in and conduct a fair and private election. But I'm sure he'll be reading this report (hint, hint, Ivan). After all, if that's his only concern then LET'S VOTE! The IBEW's Dave Reardon from Boston then came to my rescue reminding Seidenberg that it is within the law for Verizon to recognize us based on card checks.
Afterward, many elderly stockholders who, curiously, find these meetings fun to attend, approached me and were very supportive of our efforts to obtain union recognition. They were disgusted with how disproportionate our wages are in comparison with the CEO's compensation.
The trip was very productive. The board of directors heard our case. My hope is that Verizon will reverse this antagonistic relationship with us, recognize our union, and let us get to work making this company more profitable for us all.
Published on May 2, 2008
