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.
June 23, 2008
Verizon Bargaining Update
Read the update [Acrobat 104K] that was just sent to tens of thousands of CWA and IBEW members at Verizon. It is a bargaining update. All VzB techs should read it. We are marching towards One Company, and One Union.
June 11, 2008
Tearing Down the Wall
We have heard from VzB techs in Boston, Charlton, MA, Rhode Island, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Rockland County, NY. In each area, VzB techs have stood up publicly to support their union. In each area, VzB techs have demanded the right to join with their unionized brothers and sisters in IBEW and CWA.
Westchester County, NY is now stepping up to the plate. Here is a great video of VzB tech Adam Traina at a CWA Local 1103 Membership Meeting. As the contract with the 80,000 or so Verizon workers expires on Aug 2nd, we think the company is getting the message loud and clear that the days when some in this company have good union benefits while others are treated as second class citizens needs to end.
Listen in as Adam tells it like it is. Watch how the 1103 members respond to Adam's message that the VzB techs want to help Tear Down the Wall that artificially separates VZ and VZB techs.
Pass this along to those who are not yet In the Loop!
June 6, 2008
"There really is no difference between us."
Mark Latham, a Verizon Business field technician, addressed the membership of IBEW Local 2222 on June 4, 2008.
After updating the membership on efforts by the VZB techs to unite in a union, Latham concluded by saying, "There really is no difference between us. We do very similar work for the same company. The only difference is that you all have the benefits of being united in a union and we don't.
"That's probably why our provisioning and test centers are in the Philippines and Argentina and yours are still here. Of course the company wants to drive a wedge between us. But it's obviously in our mutual interest to make sure that we are allowed to form a union."
Latham received a very enthusiastic applause from the Local 2222 membership.
About 80 Local 2222 members showed their support for the VZB techs the next day with a spirited informational picket at a "Town Hall Meeting" for Global Network Operations (GNO) employees hosted by VZB VP Jeannie Diefenderfer at 125 High Street in downtown Boston.
Check out the Local 2222 website to read more about the picketing and see pictures from the action.
There are less than 60 days left before the VZ contract expires. The clock is ticking.
Lets stay strong together.
May 19, 2008
One Company, One Union
Last week, in Charlton, Mass, unionized VZ employees showed a visit to their non union VzB counterparts in Charlton, Mass. The message was a simple one: Solidarity. As August 2nd fast approaches, we believe Verizon is learning that there is one company, and there must be one union.
See pictures of the Charlton visit!
Most VzB techs who stopped on the way to work expressed support for joining the union!
In other news: we have been told that most techs in Monsey, NY, wore red on Monday to support the union arbitration that is taking place now.
Victory may be getting closer! Keep talking to your coworkers, keep wearing red!
May 9, 2008
Show Support: Wear Red on Monday!
On May 12 (Monday) the union will be sitting across the table with the company and in front of an arbitrator to get VzB techs into the union. This is the first day of a very important case!
Many VzB techs have decided to wear RED THIS MONDAY to show unity and support for this arbitration.
Please join your coworkers and wear RED this MONDAY!
Of course, we are not putting all our eggs into this arbitration basket. Although it is a crucial hearing, it is more important than EVER to continue to openly fight for our union. And Aug 2nd is right around the corner. This is our time to finally win!
In Charton, Mass, VzB techs will be joined by friends from IBEW and other unions in a show of support too. If you are in Charlton, be sure to wear RED that day!
Onward!
May 8, 2008
Another amazing video
Attached is another amazing video of NYC VzB tech Garth Ricketts addressing a boisterous crowd of Verizon union members in Brooklyn this morning.
Garth spoke at a Local 1109 informational picket this morning, and you can feel the solidarity in the air as the union members learned what its like to work non-union for Verizon.
Watch this video as the Verizon members chant "Make Them Union!"
More and more, VzB techs from Rhode Island to NYC will be stepping up. Our time is right now to demand a fair contract for VZ core members, and a union for VzB techs.
Check out the video -- it's a good one.
May 5, 2008
Signal and Noise, Issue 3
Below is the 3rd addition of Signal and Noise--a newsletter of, by and for VzB techs. Check out this latest edition. We are less than 90 days away from the expiration of the union agreement. It's important that we let Verizon know that we are serious about winning a union for ALL Verizon workers.
Signal and Noise, Issue #3 [Acrobat 301K]
May 2, 2008
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.
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