Frequent contributor "Havoc" posted a comment recently regarding the decision of Verizon to fire five junior technicians just weeks before Christmas, and only days after one of our own died on the job in Massachusetts.
This seems to be a catalyst for discussion in the workplace today, and is a fitting issue to discuss this evening.
The posting clipped the text of a press release that was distributed from the IBEW after a union action in Duxbury MA. on Sunday. If you are interested, you can read the clipping that Havoc posted by clicking "read comments" below.
It is important for everyone to know that yesterday's inspiring events at the home of Verizon executive Ellen Corcoran are an important tool in the union arsenal while fighting for these 4 men and 1 woman. It correctly states that Verizon's impeccable timing came just days before each employee would have had rights to arbitration.
Though the company tried evasiveness tactics to avoid a neutral arbiter, they did not factor in the wrath of the 12,000 New England telephone workers that would stop at nothing to help their own. Verizon, much like Comcast, divorces itself from the human impact of its decisions. The need to please the CEO's and investors, though powerful, is not reason enough to ruin families with arbitray and caprecious decisions that are used to deliver messages to the workforce.
In the past year, these employees felt fortunate to find steady employment with Verizon that pays the bills, provides excellent "bargained for" health benefits, pays tuition reimbursement, has a pension, contributes a large match to the 401k plan, etc. Recently these five men and women had to return home one day, with all of that gone. They had to come to a realization that the holidays would be anything but joyous, as their children wrote out their Christmas lists, some wondered how they would afford, not presents, but healthcare for their kids. The incredible pain and trepidation that these workers feel is not taken lightly by their co-workers.
The "union" is centered around benevolence for each other, and strength in unity. As a union member you feel comfort in the fact that you do not fight alone. We must make Verizon and their executives FEEL the pressure, and pain that they imposed on these workers. As an individual it cannot be done, union leadership cannot win this battle alone, only through the collective strength of thousands of workers will we affect change.
Any Questions: Post a comment, or join the online forum tonight @ 8:00 p.m.
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