Verizon Strike: No Endgame In Sight

Verizon Strike: No Endgame In Sight

Day two of the Verizon strike in the northeast and Mid-Atlantic States consisted of the two unions and the corporation issuing critical statements toward one another, a sign that there is little hope for the sides to reach an agreement in the near future.

The unions, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), maintain the billion dollar global broadband and telecommunications company is requesting up to 100 unfair concessions that set back collective bargaining by decades. They have taken to comparing Verizon to the state of Wisconsin, which lifted bargaining rights of state employees earlier this year.

On the other side, the wireless giant says it is offering contracts that align more with the current economy. The company is asking employees to pay into their health care premiums for the first time and it is hoping to alter pension plans and work rules.

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Verizon: Contingency Plan Working

In total, 45,000 workers up and down the east coast went on strike Sunday after months of negotiations could not net an agreement. In Rhode Island, more than 800 workers are now on the picket lines. The company maintains there will be little interruption from the strike because it trained more than 10,000 employers to fill the void of the unions.

"Our contingency plan is in full effect, and our management employees are stepping in to cover our workload," Bob Mudge, Verizon president of consumer and mass markets, said in a statement. "We are committed to delivering excellent customer service, and that's exactly what we plan to do."

Company Claim: Sabotage & Illegal Picketing

But the company said it also has had to deal with at least a dozen acts of sabotage to its communications facilities in four states since Saturday. It also says some protests have unlawfully blocked Verizon managers' access to numerous company work centers and garages.

The illegal acts have taken in place in Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York, according to Verizon. Nothing has been reported in the Ocean State, where a handful of protests continued Monday.

“These acts of sabotage are reprehensible," Verizon Chief Security Officer Mike Mason said. "In addition to inconveniencing our customers, these deliberate disruptions of our network have affected hospitals, paramedics, fire fighters, law enforcement and other first responders. Verizon is working closely with local authorities to investigate these sabotage incidents, and identify and prosecute those responsible to the fullest extent of the law. And we will not hesitate to terminate any employee who may be involved in these acts.

"In addition, there have been circumstances where union picketers are showing contempt for our customers by illegally preventing us from accessing the tools we need to serve them," he said. "We are taking legal action to end this unlawful activity."

Unions: We Want To Negotiate

Meanwhile, the CWA and the IBEW say Verizon canceled contract talks on Saturday and Sunday, which they believe is a sign the company isn’t ready to bargain.

“Verizon employees have been waiting since June 22 for management to bargain at all,” CWA Communications Director Candice Johnson said. “Even at contract expiration, Verizon continued to demand $1 billion in concessions per year. That's $20,000 for every worker. That demand is coming from a $100 billion company, where the top five executives got compensation of $258 million over the past four years.”

The CWA has maintained that it is unwilling to give in to concessions in their benefits or pensions while Verizon remains highly profitable. But the company says its wireline service, which the unions work on, has been in demand as more consumers have opted for wireless service.

Johnson said the company is trying to strip away the middle class.

“Verizon's concession demands would strip away the middle class standard of living that workers have gained through bargaining over the past 50 years,” she said. “Verizon is following the Wisconsin playbook and it's wrong.”

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