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.
September 13, 2007
Verizon's Response: No Response
Remember that letter that 65 VZB techs sent to Verizon Business President Killian and HR head Toohey grieving the fact that the company is starting to hire a lot of contractors and also hiring techs off the street at a higher rate of pay than the techs already on the job? It was sent August 28th.
Guess what Killian and Toohey's response was? If you guessed that they wrote back apologizing for disrespecting so many techs for so long, then you must be dreaming or you must be doing a LOT of forced overtime! Their response was NO RESPONSE! Although it's not surprising, it is unfortunate.
All the happy corporate double-talk of "we respect you, we have changed, we are a new company, give us a chance" was just a ploy cooked up by management attorneys to get people to stop talking union. The fact is, when 65 people sign an open letter to their boss, it would be a reasonable thing to expect a response. But not from Verizon!
In other news, many VZB techs are understandably upset that they are now being asked to become a "Uni-tech" in order to be considered for raises. Just like that, management is asking us to jump through more hoops to earn a decent living. Are we going to take all this? We don't have to!
Also, check out a recent article in the Westchester Journal about how Verizon was caught breaking the law when it tried to stop YOUR union at VZB.
September 6, 2007
U.S. Government Says "No" to Verizon's Union-Busting
Illegal surveillance, squelching free speech, illegal threats. Sounds like a government? Perhaps a dictatorship? Nope. Try Verizon.
The Federal Government just smacked management of VZB down for violating your rights under the National Labor Relations Act. A few months ago, the union filed a complaint against the company for violating Federal Law by trying to squelch union speech at work, including illegal surveillance of union supporters, making illegal warnings to union supporters, and illegally denying people the right to talk about the union at work.
The National Labor Relations Board, after a thorough investigation, has issued the following complaints against Verizon (read the NLRB's formal complaints from New York and Pennsylvania):
- A Hillburn, NY Supervisor "...selectively and disparately prohibited union solicitations and distributions, while permitting nonunion solicitations and distributions."
- In or about March, 2007, John Scocola...selectively and disparately prohibited union solicitation while permiting nonunion solicitation..."
- From in or about January 2007, the company "...on the operation floor of Respondents facility, engaged in surveillance of employees to discourage their union activities. [And} created an impression amongst its employees that their union activities were under surveillance.
- On or about late March, the employer illegally gave verbal warnings to two VZB techs just for supporting the union.
- The employer was "interfering with, restraining, and coercing employees in the excersize of the rights guaranteed in Section 7 of the Act, in violation of section 8(a)(1) of the Act
- In Pennsyvania, management illegally "informed the employees that they were not to discuss the union at work."
- In Pennslvania, management illegally "threatened employees with layoff for supporting the union"
- The labor board also found that the company gave 2 oral warnings and one written warning to 3 pro-union VZB techs illegally, in Pennsylvania and in NY.
The Federal Government is now involved in this campaign to try and protect your rights, since the company has proven they have no respect for the law. We will keep you all informed as this case develops --and more cases against the company may be on the way (hint hint).
Barack Has Your Back!
In other news, Senator and presidential candidate Barack Obama just wrote CEO Seidenberg a letter (read it here) demanding Verizon recognize your union. In the letter, Senator Obama said, "The next President of the United States will sign the Employee Free Choice Act into law, so I encourage you to show leadership by recognizing the unions and entering into negotiations without further delay."
The circle is tightening around Verizon. More and more elected officials are demanding they recognize your union. And now the Federal Government has them under investigation. We know it's taking far too long, but when we all work together, we can win.
August 28, 2007
The Ball's in Their Court
About 60 VZB techs just wrote a letter to the President of VZB, John Killian, and VP for HR Bob Toohey.
In the letter, the techs ask that management stop the practice of hiring techs from the outside at a similar -- or even higher in some instances -- rate of pay than the techs who have been with the company for years. The letter also asks that the company refrain from hiring outside contractors to replace techs who leave.
VZB has claimed it is a new company that from now on will listen to the concerns of the techs. Let's see if they stop these practices.
The letter is simply asking that the company do what is obviously fair. The ball is in Killian and Toohey's court.
Update: As of late September, still no response from Killian or Toohey.
August 24, 2007
Management Is Losing Its "Angel Wings"
The "angel wings" that management put on a few months ago as a result of the union campaign seemed to be falling off. True, many techs received well-deserved raises as a result of the union campaign, but now management seems to be going back to their familiar routine.
We have heard that there is rampant favoritism in some areas, and in others newly hired techs are making a few thousand less a year than techs who have been on the job for over 7 years! There is more contracting out, poor training on new technology, and in some instances, tech IIs are being forced to train new hires who make more than the techs IIs!
(Sounds like someone may need a union! :) Management says VZB is a "new company" and promised to listen to the techs' concerns. Let's see if this is true.
What can be done about this?
In VZ "core," the workers can't be treated this way. That's because they have a union, and fought to ensure a fair deal for themselves. And VZB will have a union too. It is certainly taking a long time, but we will win when we keep up the pressure. CWA and IBEW continue to work with our political allies and our 85,000 members to pressure the company to do the right thing. And VZB techs have also kept up the pressure on the company by publicly confronting management to respect the majority who want a union in the Northeast.
Here's the latest letter from a mayor in Massachussetts demanding that the company recognize your union. There are dozens of these letters flooding CEO Seidenberg's in box. These are customers of VZB -- Seidenberg had better listen . . . .
August 6, 2007
Unions Make the Difference
"Unions like yours make the difference between an economy that's strong and fair, and an economy where working people are left behind. That's why it's so critical that Verizon and other companies recognize the right of workers to chose a union through majority sign up. Over 500 Verizon Business techs have made this choice to have a voice in the workplace. It's time for the company to respect their right to have a union and I join you in urging Verizon to recognize the union immediately."
-- U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy, in a message to VZB techs during Aug 2nd Rally in Boston.
 Another Rally Embarrasses Verizon
A major rally was held on Aug 2nd in Boston. Verizon union members were joined by VZB techs to pressure the company to respect the majority who have already signed up for a strong union.
A great YouTube of the rally can be found here.
VZB tech John Elia spoke at the rally, and was joined by a group of other VZB techs on stage. Here's a picture of YOUR COWORKERS at the rally. Do they look scared to you? It's our unity that will always protect us.
August 3, 2007
VZB's "Angel Wings" Are Wearing Out
Remember when Bob Toohey and other management types paraded all over the East Coast promising that they were a "new" company, and things would get better? Well, it's business-as-usual for the good 'ole MCI/Worldcom crew. We knew that hanging back for a few months would show that VZB management couldn't keep their "angel wings" on for long. Their "angel wings" are starting to show some wear.
Here are some examples:
- Management has begun hiring techs from the outside and paying them more than techs from inside the company. Despite showing loyalty to the company, many tech IIs are being passed over for promotions in favor of techs hired from the street. How is that showing respect?
- Favoritism has gotten so bad now that in at least one area, management is making techs shoulder most of the work so that their "favorite" hardly has to do any work! Is that showing respect?
- Contracting out seems to be on the rise in some area of the company. This weakens our job security, and is a threat to our livelihoods.
Had enough?
Wouldn't it be nice to be respected at work? Wouldn't it be nice to not be left behind as they hire people off the street for more money? We have the power to put a stop to this if we work together. Let's get going!
July 30, 2007
This business has ignored the wishes of its employees
A few days ago, management just sent out yet another anti-union piece claiming that unions are a "business," that just wants "dues."
Here's the latest e-mail newsletter from the union that just went out to thousands of IBEW and CWA members. After reading the e-newsletter, ask yourself: Does the union sound like a business? Or does the union look more like an organization that fights on behalf of its members to raise pay and benefits and increase job security? We think the e-newsletter will answer that question easily.
Verizon Business is the REAL business, and this business wants to make money on our backs! They will continue to squeeze the techs, take away holidays, refuse regular pay raises, worsen benefits, etc., until we all say 'enough.' So far, a majority of techs have said they want a union. And so far, this business has ignored the wishes of its employees.
But no one is giving up this fight. VZB techs will be members of the union. We need to keep up the pressure.
There will be another rally on Aug. 2nd in Boston to continue to put pressure on Verizon to recognize the rights of VZB techs to join the union. If you are in the area, join the rally outside of Verizon HQ in Boston!
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