You may have seen union members with picket signs outside Verizon stores around the area lately; several of them were outside the store in Timonium on Monday.
“It's just about a fair contract. We're just trying to hang on to what we have, not even move forward anymore,” said Phil Porter of the Communications Workers of America Local 2100.
The striking workers staff Verizon's call centers, and repair the company's copper land-lines.
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64 comments:
Yo, thick-heads - everyone else had to cut back and lost ground! Do you think because you vote for dumbocrats that you're special? I guess you do!
The ones by Beaglin Park drive sit under a tent when it rains. If you are going to strike, do it right!
The strike will last long enough to cover the cost of the new contract. The strikers are stupid.
Dumzzes, need to get back in your trucks and cubicles and get to work. What the He!! do you think you are accomplishing?
Dresser Wayne all over again. Shut up and go back to work.
Sure 12:29 it's not like we have not evolved into smarter humans. Why get sick standing in the rain. What does that prove?
The Land Line business has become as obsolete as the USPS. Maybe they should apply for some mail carrier jobs.
Union member like a bowler - always wants a strike.
That is awesome. Ha Ha
Unions are a dying tradition.
2:30 - an expensive liberal tradition!
Screw them! I hope they loose their jobs to! And when people strike .... If they loose their jobs in the end,then no unemployment benefits for them at all. The Verizon workers make me sick!
Good. I hope they lose their jobs. I see them standing out there, huddled under their blue tent in the rain and think they are morons for not appreciating the jobs they have when so many others would love nothing more than to have those jobs rather than being on the dole. They are absolutely ridiculous and nonsensical. So I'm glad to hear they will not be receiving benefits while they make idiots of themselves standing out on Mt. Herman Road. They don't deserve them. CLUE: Unions are the death of jobs in America because they drive jobs out of the country where they don't have this nonsense going on. Wake Up America.
Funny that the leader said it's about jobs moving overseas. The strike is just encouraging Verizon to do just that. Smart thinking...
I'd gladly go to work their "horrible low paying jobs".
4:03 Don't read much, do you?
They are on strike because the company is trying to move more jobs overseas, as well as cut benefits.
You people are the first to whine that there aren't any good jobs left around here. Then complain when the workers try to protect their jobs here. A lot of your own jobs and income relies on people having decent jobs so they can pay their bills and have a little disposable income. Once all the good jobs are gone you have nobody to blame but yourselves.
Or maybe you like your bills going up and up and up, while you have to sit on hold to talk to Apu in India, and when you finally get somebody out to repair your service, it's a couple illegals subcontracted out with a pair of pliers and a ladder.
We cut the cord with Verizon (land and wireless) years ago. We have no bills to go up and up. Honestly, I would rather talk to someone in India that is polite, respectful and not a bigot or racist. Unions were involved in the closing of almost every major corporation/manufacturer around here. It's interesting that Perdue is non union and still here. The CWA union bosses are still getting paid, Verizon management is getting paid, the lawyers are getting paid. It seems like the union members are the only ones not getting paid. LOL.
You commenting aren't smart enough to handle a job like this.
714 sure ain't ...one ringy dingy.. two ringy dingy.. those days are gone honey! Newsflash.. Hello ITS 2016 unions are dead!!!they're Crooks.
4:49 if Verizon would stop adding fees, taxes and other cost, they might keep customers.
They step, out into traffic and harass + annoy passing drivers...
"HEY LOOKS AT ME"
While waiving their sign.
The number one lasting effects of of President Reagan's policies was squashing the unions. The master at getting people to vote against their own interests.
Unions will never recover.
Standing under cover in the rain shows you're evolved.
Expecting people to support your worthless cause shows you're not as smart as you think.
1:14, why not go back inside and work? And why do you all wave at everyone that goes by?
Newsweek says the average income for a Verizon union service person is $69,000. When you consider ancillary costs and the lack of specialized training and/or formal education, you're all way overpaid.
I'm not sure how much longer the land lines will be around, but it's probably not a long-term career.
Surely you can understand why the public doesn't support your "efforts".
Your "job" doesn't require formal education or specialized training of any consequence. Neither does McDonald's. How smart do you need to be?
You won't get to my house till the 23 cause of this well u best b deducting some money no a lot from my Verizon bill oh and can you get people to speak ENGLISH when we call
Obviously you've never done the "job" or have been trained in communications but hey at least you are getting a raise at McDonald's at least until you are replaced by automation...LOL
It takes years to be fully trained as a Verizon technician regardless of title. If you've never worked for Verizon as a tech, you have NO idea how much knowledge is required to do the job.
If "anyone" could do this job, then "anyone" would do it. And the job could attract capable, qualified employees like McDonalds does...for minimum wage.
IF, that is, you can pass all the tests for real, full time permanent employment, the credit check, background check, and drug test. Unless you're just a scab contractor in which case, you get what you get. And they'll be unemployed shortly.
11:40
Well they must need more training. I have had to call them to fix things and it always takes numerous tries before they actually fix it even though they swear they fixed it the first time. Trying to get ahold of someone to talk to is another issue. They always feel they know the problem before you actually finish explaining what the problem is and what they have already done to correct it.
I think thats why theyre on strike I know the.phone company is trying to close jobs for Americans taking calls here. So then you have to talk to India if you call.
Your training program does not take "years". It's a month. My 14 year old got more training baking cookies in middle school.
Most companies perform basic background, drug and credit checks. It's common practice, not some accomplishment to brag about.
I'm not suggesting you be paid minimum wage, but $69,000 plus costs is beyond rediculous.
Stop complaining and get back to work.
Please tell us about the "extensive training" you received in "communications" to perform your "critical" job. Promise I won't laugh.
ROFLMAO!!
Working in the call center, there is a month of intensive initial training, then months more spread out over the next few years.
I don't work in the call center. What I do, takes many specialized courses on different types of equipment and systems, and is spread out over years. But to actually become proficient, takes a minimum of five years. This is straight from the training instructors.
Sorry about your 14 year old. Not everyone can be telco material.
Training is not in "communications" what ever that is. It is electronics and electrical engineering to begin with. What we do is critical when u can't make calls or cell phone won't connect isn't it. A lot more experience and education than most people are willing to put into a job of any kind. Quit acting like u know anything about us, u do not.
Smarter than some moron who thinks no formal education or training is necessary. I guess you didn't have to pass the 6th grade for your own job.
If no specialized training or formal education was required, the job would not pay nearly as well. If anyone could do these jobs, why are people bothering to even apply at places that only pay $14 an hour then? Why aren't they lining up to apply to work at the phone company if it pays uneducated people a lot of money?
Other than the disgruntled underachievers who spew sour grapes online, the majority of the public has been extremely supportive. I've been amazed at how some folks, complete strangers, gone out of their way to express their support in many ways.
Not me. I'm not working at some horrible job, especially if it is low paying. I'll continue to fight to keep my decent well paying job from being turned into a horrible low paying job for somebody in India.
You hope everyone who makes as much or money than you do, loses their job?
Why? You really buy into socialism, don't you.
Stupid. We never want to strike. Ever. We want a fair contract. That is all.
7:52 why not? You must not read the issues do you. Would you go to work with out an agreement with your employer how much you will pay for health insurance or where you will be working next week? Why do we wave at everyone? Because we can.
Are you seriously saying $69,000 for an average union technician is appropriate compensation?
Look around online. There's really not much support out there. For good reason.
Please tell us about the extensive formal training you've received that was required to get/maintain your critical position.
You've ignored the question. What education is required of your "job"?
If what you're saying is actually true, it wouldn't be possible to outsource your jobs so easily.
When my now 14 year old finishes college and is ready to enter the workforce, your "telco jobs" will be obsolete. Not that I'd support a decision to work where one didn't need any post-secondary education whatsoever.
Maybe you can dig ditches? lol
You are supposed to be on strike and picketing. Why are you instead online and trying to convince people your "jobs" are so critical. Either get back to work or get back to the picket line! Ever wonder why you're not taken seriously?
So, union wants contractual right to 1) a job, 2) forever, 3) at pay/benefits and workforce numbers they alone deem reasonable;
and 4) only at job performance standards that they alone deem reasonable, and 5) only with a degree of job performance monitoring/enforcement that they alone deem reasonable; and 6) only at whatever largely fixed union workforce numbers they alone deem reasonable; and 7) with the simultaneous right to publically refer to their employer as greedy, evil, and a scumbag; and 8) if employer does not agree to what union alone deems reasonable, union can strike unitl employer does agree to what union alone deems reasonable.
Do I have all of that largely right? Or am I way off?
I'd suspect the main reason you aren't seeing too many applying for work with Vz land is the future is certainly bleak.
Not to mention not everyone is cut out to sit on thier butt all day looking up pre-prepared answers to customer questions on a computer screen.
"Fair" contract as defined by your union's sole decision. That's like asking a 4 year old how much candy you need to buy at the store.
The reason your jobs are threatened is because the cost to employ you is out of scale. Your combined salary/wages and costs are substantially higher than industry averages.
The same thing happened at Wayne Dresser locally and countless others nationally. I don't see you coming out ahead long-term no matter what happens.
Would you rather Verizon pay them or the tax payer ? The average welfare recipient receives 60 K per year in benefits.
I would rather Verizon paid them, and at a rate consistent with the industry and the education they do (or do not) bring to the table. This is currently not the case as I'm sure yiure well aware.
What the striking pinheads don't realize is, even when they lose their jobs, union bosses will always have theirs. If a union breaks up, they simply move to another union. Striking pinheads not only make bad blood between themselves and the company, they also have potential fallout when looking for a job. Now days in a competitive job pool market, employers will start looking at things like WHY you aren't employed with Verizon anymore. If it's due to a strike, which is very easy to find out, they're going to go with people who didn't strike. Why? Because you're a trouble-maker and no business owner seeks out and invites trouble knowing you're trouble. Good luck with your unemployment.
Question???? Has anyone seen Jim Liarton on the Verizon picket line waving a sign since he lost the election to the man from across the bay who really did not run a campaign?????? Just asking.
Verizon will find a way to sell the rest to Frontier communications and I don't blame them.
Good job union reps.You have served Verizon well.
1:03 Verizon offered that rate of pay and the union accepted on their behalf. No employer offers more than it takes to attract and retain the best. They know what education, skills and work ethic they want for a permanent full time employee and what it costs. You don't.
My job can't be easily outsourced. But I don't want to see the "easily outsourced" call center jobs leave this already depressed local economy. I'm not just thinking of myself here, I'm concerned that the opportunity for local people to obtain full time employment, that pays enough to live on, is going to disappear from this area permanently.
Not because there aren't enough people who can do the job. Not because they are losing money. Not because there aren't enough "quality" people to hire. Not because rent is too high or the infrastructure is lacking. Far from it.
And not because of the union membership. The phone company has been unionized for almost a hundred years, and has been a rock solid, pillar of the local and national economy contributing to the most prosperous era of the country.
It's because the current leadership doesn't value the communities they do business in, nor the employees that are part of those communities.
I know my job will continue to evolve as technology takes different directions, as the business adapts to the changing demands of the consumer. That's part of why I, and others like me, love what we do. We're part of something significant, something that will always be relevant no matter what incarnation, whether dial tone or data. What we do is vital to so many people, to so many industries. That in itself is a source of personal satisfaction, which is increasingly rare in today's temporary, disposable, "modular" corporate job design.
When I left this area some years ago, there was still a glimmer of hope that the middle class could hang on. Coming back to visit family and friends, I see the deterioration, the decay, the neglect and abandonment of previously thriving structures, residential, commercial and industrial alike. We would never have moved, if the resources and medical facilities our adopted special needs children depend on, were available here.
When they are older, and we can hopefully retire, we want to move back. It would be truly sad to see the town reduced to an empty, desolate wasteland.
Support your local employers, and support the local employees...because they are the ones that support your own jobs.
Wouldn't bother me one bit. I've heard Frontier is a good company to work for. They negotiate a good contract without trying to rape the employees and customers alike.
Don't care who signs my paycheck as long as it cashes.
It's called "strangle-hold". Business101 if you went to college. Explain why your non-Union counterparts earn 50% less. You're overpaid & Vz knows that and is trying to put an end to it.
No one wants to see jobs lost, myself included, but when you're paid nearly double what you're worth these things will happen.
If you want to debate my information, you might first want to tell Newsweek or Bloomberg you know better than they do. They don't spew pro-Union rhetoric.
Your job, assuming your work for Verizon, can and will be easily outsourced. No matter what you earn there's always someone willing to do it for less. The reality is union employees are entirely overpaid and they (you) know it.
Don't want to admit it? Try to find a comparable job with your "skill-set" and see what they offer to pay you.
The mom & apple pie speech is a nice touch, but trying to subtly correlate the fall of unions as the reason for economic decay is pure BS.
You assume you'd be employed after the transfer. I guess that depends on the terms of the sale. Not a good assumption initially and certainly not a good assumption long-term.
It's happening and you're too blind to see it. Ask any economics professor.
6:37 don't read much there average salary is 6-10 an hour less compared to yours and with less 401k and medical. Keep holding that line make Verizon pay
Too many spelling and grammatical errors, 2:42.
At least it supports the notion you don't need much education to work there.
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