Diary of a Union-Busting Campaign
Learn how Verizon is trying to stop workers from organizing a union. And how Verizon workers are standing together and fighting back.
December 19, 2007
Busted!
Several months ago, VZB workers from Monsey, NY, and also from Pennsylvania came to the union to complain that the company was violating the law by trying to squelch pro-union activities. The union filed a charge against the company with the Labor Board, and that charge has just been settled.
As part of the settlement with the Federal Government, Verizon Business is being forced to post a notice in Monsey, NY, agreeing to respect the law from now on. Specifically, VZB will agree not to spy on pro-union workers, and will agree to allow pro-union workers to post literature in their cubicles without fear of retaliation. VZB has also agreed to rescind any warnings to pro-union workers. This settlement comes on the heels of another settlement in Pennsylvannia brokered by the National Labor Relations Board.
The right to join a union is guaranteed by law. Thanks to some brave techs in Monsey, NY, and Pennsylvania, Verizon was caught trying to violate our rights.
December 19, 2007
Fuzzy Math by Diefenderfer?
VP for Global Operations Jeannie Diefenderfer held a meeting today in lower Manhattan. Dozens of VZB techs came to this meeting, as did VP Jim Rush, Al Miller, Kathy Ernst, and Rob Gramlich. A few Verizon brothers and sisters also showed up and handed out flyers on the union's arbitration on VZB, and also handed out Christmas cards to Verizon CEO Ivan "The Terrible" Seidenberg demanding he recognize our union of VZB workers. The Christmas cards show pictures of VZB techs.
A steady group of VZB techs were also hanging out with their Verizon Core brothers as Rush and company entered the meeting (and were given the union literature). Jeannie Diefenderfer came out and she was told that this was one company, and she should recognize the union of VZB techs. She basically ADMITTED it was one company! It was great to see so many VZB techs standing shoulder-to-shoulder with their Verizon Core union brothers WITHOUT FEAR as VZB top brass came to the meeting.
At the meeting, Diefenderfer told people to "do the math" before deciding whether or not they should go union. On that, we agree! A second grader could do the math! A real pension, no-cost health plan, a living wage, and a no-layoff clause makes the math fairly simple to do! In fact, on this date, in 2001, Verizon laid off over 3,200 union members. And thanks to the power of the union, 100% were offered their jobs back (with back pay). Perhaps Diefenderfer can do the math on that?
December 12, 2007
VZB Techs Tell It Like It Is to Congress
Yesterday, NYC VZB tech John Linder and Mass tech David Rogol went down to D.C. to offer testimony to members of Congress and the press on Verizon's union-busting. John Linder spoke eloquently at the hearing about how Verizon is not respecting the majority of its techs who want to join a union.
Watch video of to John's powerful testimony about Verizon's anti-worker behavior.
Yesterday's congressional forum on collective bargaining was the first of its kind. It was led by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.). Other members of Congress who attended included House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Reps. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.), Phillip Hare (D-Ill.) and John Sarbanes (D-Md.).
John said it best at the forum: "I have served several tours of duty in both Afghanistan and Iraq. My country called me to serve, telling me I had to fight to protect freedom here in the United States. Imagine the irony of returning home and finding that my freedom to join a union is being denied."
December 7, 2007
VZB Ordered to Stop Violating Workers' Rights
In agreeing to settle CWA charges of illegal union-busting by Verizon Business in Pennsylvania, the company was ordered by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to post notices affirming the workers' rights to organize and declaring that it will no longer engage in coercive threats to prevent workers from unionizing.
CWA filed charges on behalf of Verizon Business techs in both New York and Pennsylvania, and in early October NLRB regional directors issued complaints against the company and ordered hearings over the charges. A similar settlement is expected in the New York case.
In the Pennsylvania settlement, the notice Verizon Business is required to post at worksites for 60 days clearly describes the nature of the illegal abuses that CWA and the workers charged. Verizon must pledge:
- "We will not engage in surveillance or actions intended to create the impression that employees' union activities are under surveillance."
- "We will not threaten employees with layoff for supporting the union or ask them to inform us if they requested return of union authorization cards they had signed."
- "We will not enforce our... no solicitation/no distribution policy against employees because they have engaged in concerted or union activities or to discourage employees from engaging in such activities."
- "We will not in any like or related manner interfere with, restrain or coerce our employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed by" (federal labor laws).
- "We will cancel the written warning issued to (a key union supporter), expunge reference to said warning from our files and inform (the worker) that this has been done."
Among other rights, Verizon Business must let workers know that "Federal law gives you the right to form, join or assist a union."
"Given the pro-business and anti-union record of this labor board in recent years, the settlement shows just how blatant and egregious Verizon Business's anti-worker behavior has been," said CWA President Larry Cohen.
November 15, 2007
American Flag edition
During this Veterans Day Week, when thousands of our fellow citizens are in harms way in Afghanistan and Iraq, management at Verizon Business decided to tear down an American Flag that was hanging in Acton, Mass. You read this correctly. Keep reading, it gets better.
The flag belongs to VZB tech Terry Skiest, who is currently deployed in Afghanistan. The flag was given to Terry by the State of Massachessetts thanking him for his service. It was hanging in Acton, Mass for several months.
Why did management take down the flag?
It all started, we beleive, in Charlton, Mass. In Charlton, VZB tech Dave Rogel had pro-union literature displayed above his cubicle. This is a right he enjoys under Federal Law. The company forced him to lower the literature to inside his cublicle, where less people could see it. The union filed an Unfair Labor Practice because we believe this is a violation of Federal Law. The company is clearly sensitive now to these charges, because they have ALREADY had two different complaints issued against them for violating this law.
And so, it appears that some management attorney made a really bad decision to "appear consistent," by forcing the removal of ALL items from all walls! And thus, in an effort to defend themselves against yet ANOTHER labor law violation, some management-type took the American Flag down in Acton, in the false beleif that this would strengthen their argument for messing with the union literature.
But the story doesnt end there.
In an act of SOLIDARITY with VZB tech Terry Skiest, dozens of American Flags are now popping up all over the country, in cubicles from Texas to New York to Massachessetts. In NYC, where a few dozen flags went up today in support of Terry, the comany just told VZB techs to LOWER the American Flags from their cubicle so that people couldnt see them when they entered the floor.
We hope VZB comes to their senses, and allows people to continue to hang American flags or union literature in their work location. The law certainly says this is okay --and VZB is not above the law.
Happy Veterans Week.
In Unity
IBEW/CWA
PS: If you want to defend free speech, and to help get Terry's flag back up, put a flag in your cubicle. If you need a flag, let us know.
PPS: A pix of Terry Skiest in Afghanistan, shaking hands with a VZ Core member is attached. You can put this up too in unity with Terry.
October 31, 2007
Management Responds (Finally)
Remember 2 months ago, when over 65 VZB techs wrote an open letter to VP Toohey and CEO Killian, demanding they stop hiring people from outside at a higher rate of pay than the techs that have been here for years, and also demanding management stop increasing the number of contractors?
Well, two months later, Killian and Toohey responded. In short, they thanked people for the letter, and then denied everything. A close read of the letter, however, shows a slick attempt at wordplay. The letter says that the average salary of new hires is lower than the average salary of more tenured people.
Duh!
This is an artful dodge, and doesn't really address the fact that in some instances, new hires make more than techs who have shown loyalty to the company for years.
Toohey and Killian get an "A" for effort, but a "D-" for honesty.
October 29, 2007
Come on in!
On October 18, over 45 VZB techs joined each other in a conference call from NYC, Rockland County, NY, Woburn, Mass., and Westchester County, NY, to discuss next steps in our fight for union rights. It was an exciting meeting, with a lot of info-sharing all around. In case you missed the meeting, here's what we discussed:
- CWA and IBEW have made a policy decision to treat VZB techs as already members in the union. The reasoning for this is rather simple: The existing union contracts with Verizon provide that telecommunications work must be done by union members under existing union contracts. Verizon Business is part of Verizon, providing the same or similar products and services. It follows that the work must be union work and all employees, whether Verizon of Verizon Business, must be recognized as members of an existing bargaining unit and receive full union wages and benefits. The Unions have filed grievances and will be asking a neutral arbitrator to enforce the contracts and stop Verizon from providing VZB techs less pay and benefits than they deserve.
- There will be a newsletter coming out shortly that will be distributed to all VZB techs in the NY and New England footprint with updates on the campaign. If you are interested in contributing artwork cartoons, or articles, please contact us.
- All VZB techs will be welcomed into the union effective immediately. VZB techs will be invited to all local union meetings, parties, etc. This is your union. Union-membership cards are being made and will be handed out soon. You will be invited to your local union hall soon to meet with your co-workers in Verizon. VZB techs will be welcomed with open arms at these meetings. Be sure to come!
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