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.
May 1, 2008
Informational Picketing Demands that Verizon Recognize the Union
This morning hundreds of Verizon "core" members showed up at work early and began "informational" picketing outside their buildings. Verizon union members are sending a loud message to the company that we must get a fair contract by August 2nd. We sent a message that Verizon needs to STOP its union busting. Verizon needs to recognize your union.
Joining these picket lines were VzB techs in NYC and in Westchester, NY. VzB techs John Sweeney, John Lindner, Kevin Kuhl, Luis Nucci, and Clarance Regis were greeted warmly as union brothers by the Verizon Union members.
Click the latest YOUTUBE below to hear John Lindner give a moving account of why VzB techs deserve to join the union ranks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgAwe0fiCGk
In related news, VzB tech David Rogol is in Lincoln, Nebraska as we speak, joining 100 union brothers and sisters. David is confronting CEO Ivan Seidenberg today at the annual Verizon Shareholders meeting, demanding that Verizon recognize your union. David will report back to you all on his trip when he returns.
The day when VzB techs are union is coming closer.
April 30, 2008
Verizon Contingent Confronts CEO Seidenberg at Verizon Shareholder Meeting
The following is a message from Charlton, Mass VzB tech David Rogol. He will be part of a Verizon contigent that will confront CEO Ivan Seidenberg about his union busting at Verizon Business. Please wear RED this THURSDAY to support brother David!
Message follows:
Brothers and Sisters,
I'm forfeiting three vacation days and am on the way, with my American flag, to the Verizon stockholder's meeting in the Cornhusker state (Nebraska) on Thursday.
Hopefully, I'll get an opportunity to peel the husks away and ask Seidenberg a very pointed question that gets right to the heart of the matter.
I hope y'all will wear red on Thursday to show that we're all together in our fight for better pay, benefits, and job security.
Will keep you posted,
Dave Rogol
March 27, 2008
Second Edition of Signal and Noise
Your Rank and File Newsletter Committee has done it again. The second edition of Signal and Noise is now available (in a pdf file): A VzB Newsletter written and edited by and for VzB techs. Be sure to email a quote so we can add your name to the next issue.
August 2 --
The union contract with Verizon expires on August 2nd. That is 4 short months away. During these negotiations, we will push hard to allow VzB techs to have collective bargaining rights. We have all worked too hard to give up this oportunity. In the coming weeks, VzB techs will be discussing what we can all do to help push VZ to recognize the union. It takes all of us --in VzB and Vz Core --to Tear Down the Wall that this company has put up which artificially separates us between Union and Non-Union.
Our contract fight is your contract fight. And Your fight is Our Fight.
We are all in this together.
March 18, 2008
A Million Thanks from VZ CEO Ivan Seidenberg
(Actually, 26 Million Thanks)
A message from CEO Ivan "The Terrible" Seidenberg:
Dear VZB techs,
Thanks to your hard work, and tens of thousands just like you, I took a whopping $26.55 million home last year. That is 25% more than the year before! On top of that, I also pocketed $471,467 for my part-time jobs serving on 2 other corporate boards.
Now, I know that without hard-working employees like you, Verizon wouldn't be so profitable, and I would not be raking in the dough. And so I am really grateful for all you do. Sorry 'bout taking away some of your holidays, sick time, and increasing some of your health costs. I just couldn't resist! I am a CEO, after all!
I just have one little complaint: Too many of you continue to speak to those nasty IBEW and CWA techs who get more money, and a (spit here) NO LAYOFF clause, and don't have any co-insurance on their health benefits. Ugh. I am very concerned that during upcoming negotiations with the unions, the VZ Core techs will demand bargaining rights for the VZB techs. That will really hurt me. These union workes can be so greedy.
If you go "union," how can I continue to take in this kind of money? 26 Million doesn't buy what it used to.
In dis-Unity,
Your Pal and Mine,
Ivan "The Terrible" Seidenberg
CEO and Head Honcho
Verizon
P.S.: Get back to work!
February 29, 2008
VZB tech testifies in front of NY City Council
Watch a 3-minute video of NYC VZB Field Tech Virginia Arce testifying yesterday in front of the Labor Committee of the NYC Council on VZB union busting.
Virginia exposes the company's anti-union behavior, including all the emails we are getting, all the harrassment, all the lies. Virginia offers powerful testimony, demanding that here in America, Verizon should respect its workers' wishes.
The NY City Council is about to pass a resolution in support of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) -- a bill in Washington that would bring back fairness to our current broken labor laws.
After hearing Virginia's testimony, Council Chair Joseph Addabbo, Jr,. promised get the City Council to pass a resolution in support of EFCA, so workers can once again join unions without fear or intimidation.
Watch the latest youtube of yet another VZB tech who is standing up to Verizon's union-busting!
In the next In the Loop: More on the flag issue, and how VZB is scrambling to "spin" their decision to remove Terry Skiest's flag in Massachussetts.
February 14, 2008
Verizon Business Techs at Harvard!
Three Verizon Business technicians attended Harvard University's John F. Kennedy Forum with AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. See photos from the event.
VZB techs Kevin Lippmann, Mark Latham and David Rogol met with AFL-CIO President John Sweeney briefly at a reception and were introduced by him to everyone at the forum. They asked Sweeney questions about what the AFL-CIO and the labor movement was going to do to help them form a union.
Also attending the forum was IBEW Local 2222 Business Manager Myles Calvey and Steward John Horgan. Calvey asked when the AFL-CIO would take action using boycotts and other tactics to pressure lawless companies like Verizon to respect workers' rights. Horgan asked Sweeney if the AFL-CIO would consider supporting HR 676, the national "Medicare for All" bill.
The VZB techs distributed flyers calling on Harvard University -- as a major VZB customer -- to contact their management asking it to respect workers' rights. About 35 people signed letters to Harvard's procurement office at the forum.
News coverage of the forum appeared in The Boston Herald article, "Restoring the Labor Movement."
February 13, 2008
Arbitration Dates Set; Flag Flap Grows
Arbitration Dates Set
Many of you may remember that the union filed an arbitration against Verizon several months ago. The arbitration contends that VZB techs are doing union work that falls under the scope of the union agreement, and as such, should be automatically in the union, and should be paid the same wages and get the same benefits as union members.
After much back and forth with the company, we now have agreed on 16 dates, mostly in May, to present our case in front of a neutral arbitrator. Of course, the company will defend themselves at these hearings. But the arbitrator will be able to reach a BINDING DECISION after hearing evidence from both sides.
We know this has been such a slow process, but we wanted to keep everyone informed about the latest developments. It's certainly a step in the right direction.
Flag Flap Grows
In other news, more bad press for Verizon on the flag issue. Read the article in The North Jersey Record, "Verizon, Union Skirmish over Flag."
The company spokesperson all but admits that they are keeping the flag down because they are afraid that if they allow Old Glory to fly, they would also have to allow (heaven forbid!) UNION Literature to be hung! So, just as we all suspected, VZB is holding the flag hostage because they are petrified of union literature! The truth sometimes hurts, don't it?
If you haven't done so yet, go to www.putuptheflag.com to get the inside scoop on how Verizon is holding the American Flag hostage.
Each and every In the Loop reaches more and more techs. Please do your part by emailing us more contacts for this listserv.
February 8, 2008
Union Contracts Prohibit Layoffs
1) Two VZB techs just got laid off, and we understand that many VZB Sales people may also be let go. This is of course terrible news for those employees and their families. Some of those laid off had many years of loyal service to this company, and were laid off with no notice and no severance pay whatsoever. It is plain wrong for this company to end people's jobs for no reason.
But without a union contract, VZB can do that.
It is also important to know that not one IBEW or CWA member will be or can be laid off. The union contract prohibits it. It is true that some Verizon MANAGERS may be laid off, but not one member has been or will be laid off.
Having a union card in your pocket makes all the difference in the world.
If you know of others that have been or will be laid off, please have them contact the union asap.
2) Remember to go to www.putuptheflag.org and tell the company that it is wrong to accept US Government contracts while tearing down the flag that was put up by VZB tech Terry Skiest in Acton, Mass. Join with thousands of people who have already demanded that VZB Put Up The Flag!
WBZ in Boston, a major radio station, just did a big story on this. We will try and get a copy of the audio --and we expect more news outlets to pick up this story soon.
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