I dropped verizon several years ago, probably around 2003 because of all of the dropped calls and the sh!tty customer service I always received and the ever increasing monthly bills for ever decreasing actual useful services. I found a great company called Altell. I moved to an area that Altell did not service and my first bill after I moved was over $900.00. I freaked out of course and called the Altell service center, the lady was as professional as any Customer Service I have ever dealt with. She put me on hold for about 5 minutes, then came back on and explained that because of the non-coverage area, that every call I made or received was roaming. She then told me not to worry, as the calculated what me bill would have been with out the roaming charges and adjusted it back down to about $70.00 dollars and all this took roughly 8 minutes. Then the douche bags at verizon bought them out and the best company was destroyed by the nasty corporation. screw verizon and their billionaire CEO's. I have a pay as you go phone now and couldn't be happier, no dropped calls, 1000 texts a month 200 hours of browsing(which I don't use any way) and 1000 monthly minutes, what could be better.....

This is another example of Mr. Bigtime 27.3 Billion dollars stuffing it to the small people. Here's what Verizon is going to do next... They are going to smear the unions and the employees and basically make life hell for their own customers in hopes that this will make hardworking employees like the rest of us look like the criminals. I say the other employees should also honor the strike. The company can't operate for any more than a day if the whole crew strikes.

STRIKE!! STRIKE!! STRIKE!! STRIKE!! STRIKE!! STRIKE!! STRIKE!! NOW!!

If they do pull this strike off, that will send a very important message to management = someone has to show up for work if Verizon wants to get paid.

Corporate America thinks of us as "Dead peasants" and take private insurance policies out on you to make a profit when you die.

Corporate America thugs like Goldman Sach's and it's past high rank members are all running the federal financial regulatory committees, holding high offices, and make literally 100's of millions individually. Look here to see how many bank financing committee members and senior politicians came from Goldman Sachs or took serious Campaign funds from them.

Corporations NOW run America and they have run it into the ground.

I for one support these union workers. They are your last line of defense or we all will have McWages, part time, jobs.

Corporations at this time are making record profits....

Here is VERIZONS PROFIT STATEMENTS - check it out 2.5 billon dollars.

Lets divide just 1 billion into 45k employees and you get $22,222.00+

Verizon still gets 1.5 billion dollars. Now remember that profit is after they pay low wages, cut corners on employee benefits all the while keeping you part time. Don't forget the CEO of Verizons salary of 17.5 million!

Verizon, just like all the other corporate greedy capitalistic scum, can suck it in my book.

The issue is people have been canceling their phone service and going only to wireless. Like it or not that means costs must be reduced on the wire side of the company. Sure they have massive growth in the wireless but it takes much fewer technical guys to run it.

The union needs to be very careful verizon may do like some of their smaller competitors and outsource this part of the business to a foreign owned company.

The 50 years remark is referring to the union, not Verizon.

J camp, Just shows you the union has nothing to do with there rediculous rates. If they were'nt so damn greedy yhey would lower the rates and settle for 10 billion a quarter instead of 27 billion

Verizon headquarters are in Southlake, Texas just off 114 close to Sabre Holdings. You can see and approach the executives in the parking lot if need be. Lots of fancy cars in that parking lot.

WE just added a fourth line to our Verizon account, (excellent North American coverage and connection anywhere we have traveled) and reduced the cost of the contact in doing so. Now honestly we are nowhere near the NE so I find it disingenuous for the media to use numbers reflecting the entire country when the contract negotiations are for regional employees.

Verizon as a consumer and stock holder....stick to your guns and train middle class workers to do the same job for a fair wage and compensation.

The company said union employees contribute nothing to their health care premiums.

So we have a minority of the employees receiving platinum benefits not available to the vast majority of the private sector and probably the their fellow employees.

Only 45000 employees out of 196000 total. It is time for them to go. I hope Verizon busts the Union. I'm betting they can do just fine without them. Verizon is right about their future. We have a market that is almost saturated. They will not continue to have the expansion they once did. I'm sure it is a pain to have to baby this minority of employees to keep their greed happy. Many companies when they get to this point take on this struggle to create an environment that is equal to all employees and reasonable with the current economy. (Let alone the increases coming for them from Obamacare.) I hope Verizon wins.

Oh and to bryan...we live in a rural area and have wonderful service. I switched to Verizon 6 years ago as my cingular phone would drop calls in the north end of my house and go roaming, despite the fact I was 10 miles from the border between, local and roaming service. And the Verizon phones were better as well, let alone better customer service. Even better, since Verizon is the one with the best coverage, almost everyone has them, which means we have unlimited talk with almost everyone. Very convenient.

It is time to end Unions, their time is past, and their mentality is based on greed, not common sense. It is not their right to push their members into upper class wage earners on the backs of their fellow employees and to the disadvantage of the company.

"union members don't contribute to their health care costs"

Well, isn't that special. The whinners are going to have to start living in the real world. You want cradle to the grave coverage, then start contributing, you entitled
arrogant collectivists.

Yet again another story of a Union holding the company who actually employs them striking and creating problems for their customers and stocker holders. This is a stockmarket company, profits is what it is all about, less profits means lower stock value. If the company folds and agrees to their demands, down the road when the company is no longer competitive and profitable we will hear how management is to blame because they agreed to the contracts.

Unions had a point and a purpose long ago, this is no longer the case, now the only good they do is for the workers in a union and their families. For the other 85% of Americans and their families not in Unions, the only thing Unions do is raise the cost of every single product and service they are connected with. Unions should be removed from all public sector jobs as they only cost taxpayers more, I try not to support private sector Union Jobs as well. Verizon should be able to replace these striking Union workers, this country has many, many qualified, willing and able folks who could step in place, do the job and understand its the company who pays them and not the Union. Its the New America, Unions need to understand this as we adjust to it. Let these 45000 folks go create or buy their own company and run it as they see fit, they could compensate themselves as they see fit and see they can not compete.

I have to agree with you jonobo. While I do understand how it looks to the public when unions strike, when there are so many people that don't have jobs. It seems that these people are forgetting that sitting around and letting the "bosses" have all the say is what got us (as a country) in this financial mess that we are in. How many more times does big corporate america get a raise in salary at the expense of the americant people? Infinite more times I say, the fact that unions are going away, shows me that "big brother" is winning, and the american people are losing their b@lls to stand up for what they believe in. I can't believe that ANYBODY on here would defend this multi billion dollar corp over working citizens. If you could man up, you would still have a job. But NO! that takes too much effort and actual work. We are in the middle of a recession. Countless businesses are either going under or reporting negative. But yet almost every big corporation has reported record profits. The only thing that makes sense to me here is big business screwing it's employees to keep its 7 digit paycheck. Read that again, 7 DIGIT PAYCHECK. People really have the audacity to try and defend the clowns that make in a year what most of us will make in a LIFETIME working for them? You actually want to bust unions, and take away the one advantage the working man has. You are severely diluted my friend, green with envy, and a perfect example as to why this country is going to sh!t. Don't get mad at the union for trying to hold onto a job that would otherwise be given to an illegal immigrant or shipped off overseas. Their record profits are coming at the expense of us. This site proves that people are 10 times dumber than I had previously given them credit for.

jonobo1064, why cant these Strikers just go buy or create their own company instead of holding the company that employs them hostage. Profits now do not mean profits 5 or 10 years from now and thats how large corporations think. We do not need to be represented by a Union which may limit our productivity and earning ablities. Personally I do not care if folks are Union or not but I do not want to be forced into paying for Union labor, thats why they should not be in allowed in public service as they only raise the costs of anything they are connected with. Fine for a Union to be with Verizon, I will just cross them off my list as a future wireless provider now that I know they have Union.

Let the GOP and the Teabaggers in as a majority and people will be getting paid like in the 60's $2.60 an hour remember this they want to do away with the minimum wage ....

I'LL TAKE ONE OF THEIR JOBS!!! I haven't worked in almost two years.

UNIONIZED LABOR:

I understand that Unions have done a lot of good in America for workers rights, improving working conditions, decent wages, and ultimately giving workers a voice at the bargaining table........however, today Unions are not what they used to be. See below for some examples:

• Employees who are members of unions can be very difficult if not downright impossible to fire and or discipline due to so called "protection" from their union. This can force a company to keep paying a horrible performing employee, which results in inefficiencies and an entitlement attitude from many workers thus causing the company to hire more workers to compensate for the employees who perform badly or whom they have to pay regardless of how poor their performance may be. Anyone want to debate this with me? I have many, many examples of this in front of me if you would like to discuss this further. This ranges from auto manufacturing companies, to teachers, to government agencies, to healthcare jobs. I have read about too many stories of poor performing employees being kept on the payrolls because the company can't fire them when they perform poorly or break company policies. This is wrong any way you look at it.
• The median weekly earnings of union workers are 28% higher than non-union workers. (See source: SEIU.org) Tell me, how in the world are these companies supposed to compete with competitors knowing they have to pay their laborers that much more.......there is a reason GM went under and there is a reason why two of the big three auto-makers in America receive/received government subsidies to simply stay in business.
• Politicians give what many would refer to as UNFAIR advantages to unionized workers over other non-unionized workers in America. Why in the world should unionized labor in America be treated any differently (better) than the other 87% of American workers. Is it any coincidence that those same unions who benefit from the politicians return the favor in the form of campaign contributions and votes........by the busload. Why is it that an employer or union group would be so involved in the voting process that they go out of their way to make sure all of their employees/union workers go to to the polls whether they were planning on it or not? CORRUPTION ANYONE?
• Just like corporations who spend billions and billions of dollars lobbying in Washington, unions do the same (in fact, a Union Labor representative is one who visits the White House most often.......why do they get such special treatment?). Why do corporations and businesses spend billions in Washington? Because the government started getting involved in the free markets and pretty much choosing winners and losers by giving out government subsidies and tax credits, through regulation, and by supporting one group of people over another. Naturally, all the children (businesses/unions) are giong to go to the mother (the government) who is making all the rules and giving out all the candy and beg for their fair share. We have created a corrupt system where BOTH Unions and Businesses provide campaign contributions and votes in return for favors from politicians, the government should not be so powerful as to have a hand in the free markets of America.
• Our unemployment rate is at 9.1%, yet, against all natural forces of the market, we still have many Unions fighting for more money, more benefits, guaranteed job security, more flexible schedules, etc, etc, etc. If you have a job and are getting paid over minimum wage (which I am willing to bet all 45,000 verizon workers do), and you have good/safe working condition, and you have decent benefits (again, I am willing to bet that all verizon workers do), then WHY IN THE WORLD ARE YOU STRIKING? If you don't like what you are making, then nobody is forcing you to keep your job, go find another one.........if you can. Or, be thankful for what you have and stop being greedy in a time of hard times in America!!! By the way, I am sure there are about 9.1% of the population that would LOVE TO HAVE YOUR JOB.
• Ultimately, unions have shifted from "employee advocacy to employer antipathy". This is not a good thing in American. Not to mention, they have huge political power and employees are pretty much paid to campaign for certain political parties due to the return they will get if that particular party is put into power.
• I can't help but mention this one, don't you just love the unions of the players in the NBA and NFL? They get paid millions, yet that is not enough for many of them and they are demanding more. Where few Americans will make over $1-2 million in a lifetime, I have a hard time having sympathy for players who make between $1-20 million EVERY YEAR! I know, I know, but owners make more than they do. Well, if they don't like it why don't the players start their own league. It is not like the owners FORCE players to work for them. Better yet, why don't players go get another job if they don't like what they are paid? Sorry, I had to throw this one out there.
• As for unions in the public sector, this can be bad news for all tax payers. Even FDR said that government employees should not be able to unionize. This is part of the corruption, we now have government employees (think about it, who is their boss at the top) paying and giving votes to politicians who will ultimately decide how much money is thrown their way in order to guarantee pensions and or a job. On the other hand, you have politicians who can use TAXPAYER dollars to satisfy the wants/demands of unions and in return get votes and campaign funds from LARGE UNIONS that have a lot of money and workers (votes). This is a problem and ultimately the American people are losing when unionized labor for public sector employees get paid more than what the free markets would dictate that they be paid. Where a business would ultimately fail and or have to increase prices thus becoming less competitive in the free market, the governemnt simply has to either borrow more money from another nation or take more from the taxpayer. There is a reason that even FDR thought this was a bad idea, yet today, there are too many in Washington who literally favor Unions over the rest of us, this is creating a corrupt system either way you look at it.

Speaking as a business customer, Verizon sucks. And I'm being kind. I have had experience with both voice and data services in 2 locations in NY and NJ and not only have they had to come back to fix recurring EXTERNAL issues, but 5 day turnaround to an outage on more than one occasion in the last 4 months? And you want a contract? You can't meet an SLA and yet you're entitled to "superior pay and benefits?" Based on performance and attitude of the employees I've met or had experience with from Verizon (bear in mind VerizonWireless has been pretty good), the only thing you deserve is a bucket load of pink slips. I don't give a rats @$$ what your union-scripted "Fair american wages" nonsense touts. You don't deserve "superior pay and benefits" for providing @!$%#ty service. As soon as I can find another carrier to service my sites in NY and NJ, I will drop Verizon like the bad egg that they are.

@UAW and willowbrook, you are exactly correct. People talk about rich corporations and their greed; these are publicly owned companies that are required by LAW to do the best they can by their stockholders. Unions are a relic best left buried; we are protected by labor law so the only purpose for a union now is to satisfy the jealous greed of entitlement-minded workers and to provide a lobby base for left wing entitlement-minded politicians. And all of this is regardless of the wishes of the workers. Having worked a union job before, I find the whole situation to be legal extortion and not worker protection as they claim. Unions aren't even required to submit to the type of oversight and regulation that business is. I have a family member that works for Verizon but is non-union; the compensation is very generous and the benefits are better than most private sector jobs. I find this whole situation to be an example of conspicuous consumers scrambling to cover their overwhelming debt at the cost of the true wealth producers of this country.

@Rick If the majority votes them in, then it is democracy in action. Sounds to me like you are advocating a one party system, i.e. dictatorship. It saddens me how so many Americans base their political beliefs on emotional appeal and promise of personal gain rather than rational and well-thought out reason. I personally would like to see small government and personal responsibility come back into vogue.

And who do you think was behind that 5 day turnaround? Also it's caused by old and broken down equipment that Verizon does not want to replace or repair. We have half the workforce as 4 years ago and no overtime allowed. We've had to walk off jobs before completing them or not finishing them at all. Why? Because that is what we have been ordered to do by management. S#!t rolls downhill! Your rates have gone higher and higher and outsourcing has kept Verizon's profits well within their goals. Who did you speak with when you called your problem in? Someone in the USA? Doubtful.

Verizon wants everyone to believe that is another union trying to get everything they can....not the case.

Verizon wants to send jobs overseas. So those that think firing these people and hiring new ones is a good idea, it will be someone from Pakistan. Outsourcing is what the new CEO is known for doing. So for the guy that thinks 9.1% of the population would love to have the jobs, they will need to relocate to another country. How does that help our economy?

27 billion in profits, unlike the motor giants that were dying and the municipalities that simply do not have money. Verizon is using the same corporate greed that got this economy into the condition it is today. They are eliminating the middle class. Look at recent economic studies where the savings of the middle class has been all but eliminated.

Verizon has hurt the consumer. They have invested nothing into the infrastructure, the copper lines are falling apart and FIOS is moving at a snails pace. Why? They are not interested in their customers or employees, but the short term goals of filling their pockets. These guys are out of touch.

Verizon has cut over 17,000 jobs this decade. The execs that make over $50 million/year want to cut more jobs even though they cannot serve their customers on a timely basis as it is.

Corporations not only answer to the stockholders, but to communities. It seems over the years people have forgotten that day in Business 101. The reason of course, is that as a corporation thrives, the community should benefit with jobs and opportunities. The people with jobs reinvest into the community thus creating more jobs. By sending these jobs overseas and elsewhere, Verizon is single handedly causing more harm to our struggling economy. It really is that simple.

verizon's copper plant is just like a car if u just keep driving it without proper maintenace it will cost more time and money to fix! this is whats happening, the company is not allowing the technicians the time to provide superior customer service that is needed to its customers, all verizon see's is a number u need to get this many jobs done a day or else! its almost impossible with the companies thinking of we don't have time to fix the problem the correct way, they tell us to just put a bandage on it and move on!!! its not about customer service anymore and thats not because of the union workers. smh!!!!!

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Before posting uninformed statements regarding labor unions, one should read and understand labor's history first, i.e. how we got here.

It should be noted that the National Labor Relations Act (or Wagner Act) was passed is 1935 during America's Great Depression. Despite an unemployment rate of around 25%, this period saw the largest number of striking workers in our nations history.

Not only were there numerous strikes, but as the strikes continued they were becomming ever increasingly violent, clashes between the striking workers and the hired corporate thugs and local law enforcement to "put these workers in their place".

The result however, was that the workers far outnumbered the corporatists and their cronies, and F.D. Roosevelt realized that if the workers' needs(notice I didn't use the word "demands" here) were met, America could find itself in another civil war, one between the have's and have-not's.

Roosevelt also realized that the workers' needs were every bit the same as the corporatists'.

It is believed by some labor historians that the National Labor Relations Act was passed primarily to stop the excalating violence, not so much because it was the right thing to do.

Now, let's look at working conditions before and after passage of NLRA:

The dignities of the worker that were gained by labor unions eventually "spilled-over" into the non-bargaining unit workforce. So, most of the labor rights we have today are a direct result of the hard work and dedication of our union brothers and sisters.

If you like:

8 hour work days, overtime, sick leave, vacation leave, OSHA(safe working conditions), child labor laws, etc... I could go on and on and on....

Thank a Union member.

If you would be perfectly happy to lose these and many more, then by all means destroy the labor unions and enjoy your dormitory housing and indentured servitude.

Read. Educate yourselves.

Verizon to Union: Here's the offer. Take it or we replace your a$$es.

A fair wage is a wage that I can stand up on my own and ask for. If I am 1 of a million people with a given skill I really can not demand very much, but if I am 1 of a couple thousand people with a skill that has the same demand my ability to ask for more goes up.

The Unions better be careful right now. I could see companies closing divisions of majority Union workers and opening new divisions while hiring all non-union workers. 9.1%+ those that have run out of unemployment checks may be willing to form a group and offer Verizon a group of 35,000 workers scattered across the US at a much lower rate. Wouldn't that be funny to have a new union competing with an old over bloated one that doesn't understand current economics.

These strikers do not work for Verizon wireless, which is profitable, they work for the wireline service that is not profitable. They quote the profits of the company as a whole which is a result of the wireless division, but say nothing about the wireline division they work for as being in decline and not profitable. I hope Verizon sticks to its guns even to the extent of shedding the wireline division that is losing money plus causing most of their labor problems. Just cut the less profitable section and kick their greedy butts to the curb.

wow this is a joke, unions built this country, middle class is this country, you stupid necks yea get rid of the unions really? ok go pickup your skilled workers in the parking lot at home depot, have them build your house for 20th bucks a hour idiots, but wear a helmet since its not built to code it probably fall on your head, oops save money didnt you fools.

bencas

Verizon wants everyone to believe that is another union trying to get everything they can....not the case.

Verizon wants to send jobs overseas. So those that think firing these people and hiring new ones is a good idea, it will be someone from Pakistan. Outsourcing is what the new CEO is known for doing. So for the guy that thinks 9.1% of the population would love to have the jobs, they will need to relocate to another country. How does that help our economy?

It would be difficult to have someone in Pakistan replace a telephone pole or switch hub. I don't think Verizon is looking to outsource any of the ones who are striking, the landline operation.

ed freen-3499132

Damn, ED!! Most of the skilled productive workers in this country are not in the unions. The unions mostly stay in power because the Democrats pander to them for their votes.

@ed freen, seriously? I've worked as labor on a union-controlled construction site. Here's how it went: Union members refused to work overtime to meet the deadlines. My buddy and I worked up to 6 hrs a day in overtime to fix union screw ups and we were only "semi-skilled" labor. One evening I was told to mount over 300 brackets on concrete; it took me 3.5 hrs. The next day the union guys had a fit and complained to the union. The brackets all had to be removed and reinstalled by union members. This took 3 weeks. They were installed incorrectly. Took another week and a half to fix it. Throughout, I was harrassed openly. Called "scab" and "rat". My safety was not only ignored, they tried to hurt me on more than 1 occasion. I had no legal recourse because they were union. If it weren't for 3 non-union workers, the job wouldn't have been completed before the deadline(my super's own words) but the union guys all got bonuses because of us. So you can take your union and stuff it; I'll only do business with non-union companies from now on.

At Bryan, are you telling me that prepaid calls don't drop? I doubt it. You will get poor service no matter what company you subscribe to. That is just the Americian way today and you can thank Corporate America for that.

I can't quit laughing...........

Someone up above posted .. and put VERIZON and QUALITY in the same sentence............

It is time to end Unions, their time is past, and their mentality is based on greed, not common sense.

I disagree. Unions are not always right, but they need to exist as a counterbalance to corporate greed and power.

The 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s have been prosperous times for top U.S. executives, especially relative to other wage earners. This can be seen by examining the increased divergence between CEO pay and an average worker’s pay over time. In 1965, U.S. CEOs in major companies earned 24 times more than an average worker; this ratio grew to 35 in 1978 and to 71 in 1989. The ratio surged in the 1990s and hit 300 at the end of the recovery in 2000. The fall in the stock market reduced CEO stock-related pay (e.g., options) causing CEO pay to moderate to 143 times that of an average worker in 2002. Since then, however, CEO pay has exploded and by 2005 the average CEO was paid $10,982,000 a year, or 262 times that of an average worker ($41,861). source: http://www.epi.org/economic_snapshots/entry/webfeatures_snapshots_20060621/

To all you union bashing folks, I won't call anyone names, everyone's entitled to their opinion (no matter how wrong I think it is.) If 50% of the American workforce was still union you would ALL have most if not all your medical paid by your employee, like it used to be when there were more unions. You would have retirement, sick leave, vacation time, etc. if there were more unions.

"Unions lobby Washington". What, only corporations should be allowed to lobby?

"Unions get there employees to vote and tell them how to vote" Unions tell their members how to vote for their best interest and encourage them to do so, nobody follows them into the voting booth and forces them to do Anything. They look out for each other, why do you think it's called a brotherhood???

"They want more money in these economic times" These "economic times" means corporations making record profits while taking away workers rights, pensions, and benefits, while CEO and board members receive record pay. The chasm between CEO and worker pay has never in history been wider.

Long ago I was in the Machinist and Aerospace workers union. Ours was the only business of our kind in the area that was a union shop out of hundreds of shops. Our company was by far the most productive and profitable. If you did not do your job to the satisfaction of the company as agreed upon in our contract the Union would be on your ass like stink on you know what. Shape up or ship out. The union protected the worker who did nothing wrong, and protected the company we worked for from slackers, it's a two way street. I worked my ass off every minute in a professional manner and was compensated accordingly.

Why anyone would take the side of corporate vs employee is beyond me. Maybe it's jealousy, a lack of education, a paid troll, I just don't get it. If we as a people ever want to see a middle class again we need to stick together because right now fighting against each other is just what corporate America wants. If you think a group of workers getting together for better pay or working conditions is wrong and believe the richest two percent should pay a lower tax rate than you do, that corporations are your friend but your fellow worker that has banded together with his fellow workers for a better life is the enemy, PLEASE move to another country, because YOU are the enemy of the working American.

To all the folks who want the jobs of the union strikers - you don't like unions? Go to China, India, or Indonesia - they don't have unions. See how you like their wages and conditions. You don't have a clue about what unions have done for the middle-class - they made the middle-class possible.

Is Verizon making record profits??

These employees should not have to strike to make this large corporation supply a comfortable the living as it would for the guys in the marble halls.

What did the CEO make last year?? Pay, health insurance, K-401, Bonuses, vacations, transportation, & expense accounts???

Take care of your employees, Verizon!!! Cost of living has gone up more then the raises.. Compensate the employee that produces & replace the ones that do not produce, with productive labor, can let these Americans make a comfortable living. MAY GOD BLESS.!!

I have to wonder just where this country would be today without the unions.. Before them...few made a living wage as prices were going up. MOst of the wages paid today come because of the unions...even to the companies that are today , no union. I have to also wonder just what people consider to be a living wagew today..and what companies would pat that wage without the pressure from union companies. Does anyone believe for a minute that unions stop profits ffor companies...if so how considering the huge profits they are all making today even with unions? Also, consider the CEO's and their bonus pay that was received even in the economic drop we all had over the past three years....even with unions...did thier pay suffer? If you want everyone making 6,7,or 8 dollars an hour...please, get rid of the unions..but then be prepared to have your own salary drop to match that of everyone else. Of course...companies had better be prepared to see their profits drop because no one will be able to afford anything.

JRAE, China does have labor unions - as a matter of fact the unions actually have a more active role in the daily work. Labor unions care about one thing . . . dues.

Eric in Oregon, your statement is short sighted. How do you propose paying for the cost of the freebies when wireline is an obsolete product that will continue to decline? Oh, that's right, lay off the bottom 25% to pay for the freebies and keep the 15% problem workers - you know what I'm talking about, right? Boeing has the same issue - no one says anything about the guy who's sleeping at his desk, they just accept that's how it is. It's a shame because there good people who want to work but can't find jobs. Meanwhile employers are forced to support non-productive employees. Joining a union doesn't guarantee healthcare. The unions have created an inflexible, bloated and overpaid work force.

Bryan, that pay as you go phone is probably using Verizon's network and you're paying a higher rate per minute, not really a good deal.

Unions tell their members how to vote for their best interest and encourage them to do so, nobody follows them into the voting booth and forces them to do Anything.

Eric, for the most part I agree with your post. I do disagree with this part. Unions are pushing the "check off card" system for determining whether employees will be represented by a union, instead of the current closed ballot system. I think that is a terrible move because it opens employees to incredible pressure by peers and union organizers. Unions seem more interested in paternalism than democracy.

I have had Verizon wireless service for several years and have had Quality service everywhere I've bee in the US. My service has covered the east coast where I live all the way to the west coast and from Canada to Mexico. NEVER a roaming charge. Customer service is second to none.

atlaswillshrug, you are mistaken. Customer Service Reps are a large part of the individuals on strike. You need to get the facts straight.

Not only that, but the technicians are limited to the level of service they can provide. When you wait a week or more for service, that is corporate Verizon. When you have constant problems with your dsl or landline, that is corporate Verizon that does not want to invest in the infrastructure. Those waiting on FIOS....that is corporate Verizon not wanting to invest in the communities.

Verizon claims that management is going to fill the gaps. They do not have 45,000 people in management. They want to take people from Texas and have to serve the innercity of Phila and NYC...good luck with that! Totally different culture that will not care that they are from another area.

Don't be naive in your statements. You sound silly.

Verizon,

I will be honoring the Union strike and will not cross the picket lines, this includes not entering stores in states where there are the so-called right to work (funny, why are so many more people out of work in such right to work states than in Union states eh?) laws. Where ever I can I will avoid using Verizon services.

This is not about wireless phone ,this is about land-wire service. Of course I don't have it anymore, if the company do not need more workers is the right to keep only the ones they need and not all the 45 thousand. Unions has no right to demand to maintain excessive number of workers. The reason of the business is make profit for the corporation and stock holders, providing service or goods and not welfare, keeping in their payroll people than don't need.A corporation is not the federal administration where we have an army of employees heating up their as@#$. We are not in a socialist country where unions control the industry.

FACT - American Workers are making less every year

FACT - The Top 5% of Company Executives salaries have increased 320% in 9 years.

FACT - Cost of living is out pacing wage growth

FACT - American Corporations have record cash on hand

FACT - American CEO's 10 to 1 favor shareholder returns vs Employee Wage growth.

FACT - 2,900,000 jobs were sent overseas in the last 2.5 years

I'm not a Union guy but someone needs to explain how this is suppose to turn around?

For those of you who say "I'm out of work I'll take their job", read the Grapes of Wrath - this is the rich pitting the have-little vs. the have-nothings.

The only idiots on here against the unions are dumb, poor and jealous, OR they are rich Republican stock-holders.

Regular workers shouldn't ever be against unions because once management kills off the last union your wages will plummet!

What we really need to do is ZERO in on jobs outsourced and BOYCOTT those products and manufacturers.

Sick of hearing from the Union haters and lovers. Blah blah blah. Snore.

It's a strike, get over it. When your service gets disrupted and you don't like it anymore, stop crying and switch services. It isn't like you don't have options.

Or you can make this a political issue. For those who've done that, how's that been for you? Getting better connection speed?

No, no you haven't. So, back to line #1 on this post.

Union busting by Verizon......why am I not surprised. Stay stong unions for it seems many do not understand what happens when unions are busted. The majority of companies would like nothing better than to pay workers minimum wage and provide no benefits. I mean, they're going broke. right? What I do not understand is why so many posters on here want the same.

HyrWomyn - Your post is a nice History lesson, but has no relevance on today. The fact is, now that the US govt has regulated everything the Union originally campaigned for, we will never return to the past. So what is the Union doing for the worker NOW? I think GovernmentforthePeople answered that question well. Boiling it down....the Union protects poor workers, the Unions keep plants from being efficient. (You don't know how many times I heard my friend who worked in a Union plant telling me about having the ability to not do a different job (a job he had been trained to do) when asked as they were forced by Union rules to go to the Union steward and he would refuse it because it would "effect the employee's cost center." Since when does a Union Steward know how to run a plant. That's what the managers are for, they are their to keep all the operations running.) And to take as much from the company as they can get, paying the employee, in wages and bennies, more than the job is actually worth.

It troubles me the Unions "don't get it" that their actions of increasing the cost of producing goods has encouraged the shipping of their jobs overseas. They are very much responsible for this problem. The only other major contributor is the US govt., by making trade deals that favor the other countries.

To Eric in oregon - Yes, both Unions and corporations lobby Washington. But the Unions are doing it with much more money than the corporations. Where do you think they are getting the money? From Union dues. Dues many of them have no choice about paying.

Here is a post that shows the top contributers to campaigns and 13 of the top 15 are Unions, 1 Corporation and 1 Association.

http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php

Nice to see the collapsing haters out in force today....you're only encouraging more to read and vote for those posts....except the really stupid ones.

And who do you think was behind that 5 day turnaround?

Don't know, don't care. I need services restored. When I have communications to the help desk and I'm getting condescending attitude and HUNG UP ON by the AMERICAN person on the other end, I'm not inclined to blame management. This is clearly attitude of the employee.

Also it's caused by old and broken down equipment that Verizon does not want to replace or repair. We have half the workforce as 4 years ago and no overtime allowed.

So do most companies. Welcome to the downsized world. I have to pick up the slack of 2 other managers that have been dismissed and another one on the way out. I work until the job is completed and completed properly and don't make a dime in OT, not to mention I am on-call 24/7/365. I work while on vacation at the beach. I miss birthdays. I lose vacation time at the end of the year. While management may not give a crap, I value MY REPUTATION and my work ethic and don't turn around and blame management for it. This is my job. This is my responsibility and if I don't feel up for it, I can look elsewhere. There's more important things in life to me than getting every last penny of "what I think the company owes me." I have to put in extra time to make sure my CUSTOMER is happy (they are the ones who ultimately pay my salary), then so be it. Bottom line, work should have something to do with pride in product or service delivered, and not just about my bottom line. But entitlement supercedes ethics these days.

We've had to walk off jobs before completing them or not finishing them at all. Why? Because that is what we have been ordered to do by management. S#!t rolls downhill! Your rates have gone higher and higher and outsourcing has kept Verizon's profits well within their goals.

See my previous comment. And if you're passing the @!$%# down to your customers, you're no better than the management you're so disgusted with.

Who did you speak with when you called your problem in? Someone in the USA? Doubtful.

I wouldn't publish a name, but I've never spoken to a foriegner when I've dealt with Verizon or VerizonWireless. I HATE dealing with outsourced support, language barriers and morons who can't assist me or are simply following some script before escalation. I would be the first to back you if I'd experienced it.

iheartmyv8, you are fortunate to not have spoken with a foreignor when dealing with Verizon. It is commonplace for the wireless portion of the business and becoming more common for the other sector. That is part of the gripe. The techs find theirselves stuck at customers homes trying to get a foreignor in another country to handle a simple computer application to fix a problem. They read from a script, they don't get nuances and do not understand how to think on their own. There is a large cultural gap that is infuriating as it is unproductive. But you knew that!

It would be interesting to know how many Verizon wireless customer came from Verizon landline customers.

First I hate Unions but do see the need for them to keep wages and benefits up. My Father was shot during a strike many years ago while sitting on a toilet by some chicken crap union member. ( what a big tuff guy he must have been) Unions would get less hatred from people if they quit supporting socialism but that's what a Union is a socialist group trying to get benefits and wages for people who haven't earned them and some that have. Why would a person who works his or her butt off want to join a union were someone who sleeps in a corner is guaranteed the same wage and can't be fired.

We are only talking about LAND LINE not Wireless here....I've never gotten a foreigner when calling Verizon wireless and customer service is EXCELLENT.

Magnum Serpentine

Verizon,

I will be honoring the Union strike and will not cross the picket lines, this includes not entering stores in states where there are the so-called right to work (funny, why are so many more people out of work in such right to work states than in Union states eh?) laws. Where ever I can I will avoid using Verizon services.

i guess the union drools dont like it when the truth hits home? refering to this being a prime exsample of a union/members holding the consumer over the barrel, lol. funny thing is, those idiots who are supporting this, i hope you have verizon, and are stuck in a nice loong contract. if the union drools get their way, rates will go up. as promised, as always.... the sh!t rolls down hill. make the company pay more? well they make the consumer pay more to cover lost $ from the union drools. this history hasnt changed from day 1. so you are only giving it to yourself, in the long run by supporting trash raises, pensions, and so on.

let me ask you this, any union drool.... why is it, if one guy is a lazy pos, has X=amount of years in a union company, and the hard working guy next to him has less time in, should the lazy pos be kept? if the only reason you have is time on the job.... please feel free to come up with a ration excuse. time on the job doesnt mean squat, when you look at who is doing the work, and who isnt.

The bills wont get any lower, you bet on that. If anything, they will rise, verizon will find a way to say, well, we had to raise our prices(again) or cut services to stay viable. The top earning douche bags couldn't care less if it's workers suffer, let alone it's customers that make them billionaires in the first place.

Oh haven't you heard. They cut out NEW EVERY TWO, they tiered their data package. If you didn't have the unlimited package before July 7th, it is gone now.

They will lose customers quickly once they are done making all their money saving changes that will screw their customers over to every other major wireless company

I WILL TAKE THEIR JOB IN A HEARTBEAT GIVE BACKS AND ALL< SIGN ME UP!!!!!!! The union workers at Verizon are paid very well and are not being asked for the moon. Time to grow up with 9% unemployment and the fact that management has been trained to do their jobs while they are out proves they are not that needed.

bh0673 You want a job, get off your lazy ass on get to North Dakota, there's plenty of jobs available in the oil field.

Verizon is the pits, no thank you, strike all you want.

bh0673 is you want one of the jobs, move to Pakistan. That is where the jobs will be outsourced.....or some other country in that region. Gotta luv it, 27 billion in profits, no investment in the system to promote customer service and now moving jobs to another country.

bencas, please actually read the article. Most of the jobs are for the wired system - line people, installers, repair - can't outsource them. And there is a huge difference between revenue and profit. Please look it up. 27 bil is revenue, not profit.

All of the 10,000 jobs these union workers are doing are either going to be done elsewhere (outsourcing) or by temporary workers. Pretty soon there will be no full time jobs anywhere (Verizon included) with benefits, just a bunch of low paid hard working Americans with no medical benefits doing these jobs that the union workers were paid too much for. 28% above the national average is too much but I thoroughly agree Verizon 'service' is poor but the cost of their services have come down, I know because I see it in my bill.

cele2000 but they have employees that are not union workers (land-line) that are still held to the same standard as the union workers but guess what.......they are not getting paid the amount as the union workers and are expected to do more. So please tell me who is being screwed here? This is what union busting companies want to do to its employees. Tell me how would you feel if you a technician (union) making $1000 week and you doing the same job for $500 a week feel? You would be claiming it is unfair because you are doing the same job but this is what the unionfight for, fair practice. Guess who else the unions fight for? Yup, the non-union members. It is all about trying to hold the company responsible and stop being so damn greedy. If I could only get 1/10 of what CEO's are making in a year, damnit I would be happy. Compare these numbers. Employees (who make the company money) only get $750 (minus luxury taxes = $400) profit share a year while CEO, CCO and whomever is at the top takes millions of dollars in bonuses each year and you want to tell me this is fair? Also keep in mind it is the union that stop companies from walking you out the door without having just cause. So all of you that want to be union buster can kick rocks with no shoes on and continue to get screwed by corporate America.

Anyone that derides the union for taking action just wants to see the entire country working for slave labor wages and living in poverty. I feel less sympathy for those of you that allow a greedy corporation to force you to live on substandard wages when you allow the we will take it to china argument you have no sympathy for me when i argue i am worth more.

Looks like a union is about to drive another company overseas. You could take all Verizons profits, 27 billion, and it would take Obama 2.7 days to spend it all.

Cele, I know from personal experience. Even the landliners are nailed by outsourcing on two levels. They outsource within the states and they outsource outside the country for customer service. When a tech calls on your house, they need to call for support to make adjustments in the system....who do they call? Another country! It prolongs the process by 30-60 minutes. Also, Cele, my little wonder, the union includes customer service reps that are vulnerable to being outsourced. How do we know? Not just because we are smart, but it was done wtih Verizon Wireless where Verizon's illustrious leader worked prior to his current role. Verizon is trying to remove the portion of the contract that requires that contractors be termintated prior to laying off the Verizon employees.

Oh Steve2081387---that is what the union is trying to stop. If they did nothing, say goodbye to the jobs. It is already in the plans.

THIS STORY IS ABOUT LAND LINE NOT WIRELESS DIDN'T ANYONE READ IT FIRST !!!!!!!!!!!

zhovti - now that's funny....

WINNER! - dude that rocks.. zhotvi that was great:)

Funny, except Verizon Wireless does not have any union employees. This article is referencing Verizon Communications, an entirely seperate company.

I would love to see their asses on fire. These unionized workers make the job less competitive.

EP and Chris

You might not mind to work for minimum wage, but some people can't afford that either

Who says the Verizon employees don't want to work? I never read that anywhere. They want to work for a fair wage and the benefits that the company offered when they were hired. These people go to work every day to help grow Verizon into a telecommunication giant making billions and then Verizon turns around and says, screw you.

EP,

Get real!!! Do you really believe they don't want to work? Get your head out of your ass you teabagger!

Says the ass who is probably living on welfare and off of the union employees and everyone else who goes to work everyday!

Again, if they fire these people, most of the jobs will be overseas. yeah, that helps our economy! Know the entire story before making silly comments.

dslodge, this is not just about company policy. This is about a company with 27 billion in profits not reinvesting into its utilities that everyone depends on--even if you use another carrier, they use Verizon lines. It is about keeping jobs in America. It is about keeping jobs for these people so that they can spend the income in our country thus creating more jobs....the list goes on.

They want to work, ever so badly. They work on average 60 hours/week. They want to keep their jobs. Now you have the jist of it.

Sorry, no sympathy for the poor old union workers... poor guys and girls just barely scraping by. In the global economy there is no way to sustain American production or service with high priced union level wages. Get used to it. There are a few billion other people who think 15 bucks a day is rich. How do you compete with that, unless all of us, as consumers, demand American made goods.

Buy American or don't buy it, whenver and wherever possible.

to: dslodge with your thinking i would take a geusss that u have a minimum wage job?

Bencas...The US is fast becoming an American Aristcracy similar to that of England of the 1600's. Here's why. American laborers are at the mercy of greedy ass employers. These are the employers who take the most in federal funding out of our tax revenues WE pay and they don't. How much does Verizon pay in federal taxes? I'd bet anything it isn't 32%.

The reason this country is now a serfdom of the rich is simple: Americans were force-fed the idea that prices on goods and services MUST always rise. That's not true. Does anyone believe that capitalism today isn't really greed when Big Oil can raise their prices a half a dozen times in a year? How is that not greed?

Americans were force-fed the idea that businesses shouldn't have to pay taxes because they provided jobs and stabilized the economy...Nothing is further from the truth. Not when 9 million Americans were downsized, outsourced and offshored in order to fatten the obscene American CEO salaries no CEOs in any other country receive.

So, you have what we have now...The rich cannabalizing the working poor and Middle Class. Of course, they don't want unions of any kind. How can they put a stop to workers' demands for workplace safety, higher salaries and obligatory healthcare insurance and pensions?

If you think about it, the Mafia and rich established businesses in Cuba to avoid paying corporate taxes. Is making the pay corporate taxes really unfair when you consider that they use infrastructure and government services 100 times more than the rest of us? So, why are we paying for their oil spills, their R&D and the rest of the BS exemptions they get that raise taxes on individual Americans?

They don't want off that Gravy Train. They are scared schwitless that Wall Street can't do what Social Security guarantees. That's why they want your payroll deductions in private funds. It increases their wealth and jeopardizes yours. They just don't care. Rich bitches never do.

They know going in that a 6 figure salary means paying higher taxes...Is that unfair? No. It isn't. To do the opposite would mean that their salaries would be immune to the increases in the cost of living that makes them richer as well as an immunity to major economic disasters. This is what they are really after: immunity from the things the rest of the country has to endure.

It's called Rich Boi Syndrome....Don't touch a dime of their money but they'll help themselves to yours. How much more aristocratic do they need to get?

cele2000,

When I can buy an equal quality product for less that is made overseas, I would be a fool to buy a higher-priced American made product. However, if given the choice between two equal products at equal price, I will buy American.

ewent-

If we eliminate the corporate income tax, businesses would flock to the US, creating millions of jobs and wages would naturally increase due to the competition for workers.

Atlas...Why should individual Americans have to pay double the taxes when we don't use the roads, bridges and government services in the huge volume these corporations do? And corporations as has already been proven don't pay the same percentage of taxes as individual Americans once all of those tax breaks are deducted from their actual tax rate.

You don't have to pay double, we should all be paying half of what we do now. We just need to quit spending money.

AtlasWillShrug...Going to burst your dream bubble here. What if Americans paid zero taxes as corporations and the rich are desperate to effect? Think about it. Can this country survive if no one pays any taxes?

Americans don't have any say in how their federal tax dollars are spent. Most Americans know they are getting ripped off by corporations who help themselves to truckloads of tax breaks. That reduces tax revenues someone else has to pay to make up the difference. That's not economically sustainable.

Personally, I love for the spending on Big Oil to end. I'd love for Big Business to pay for the messes it makes and not dump it on taxpayers like they did with 3 bailouts since 2003. That's the kind of spending that erodes federal revenues faster than anything any single American could accomplish unless their last name is Madoff.

People who earn higher salaries know going in their taxes are higher. Anything less means granting privilege to the rich for no reason other than they are rich. That's creating a class of aristocrats. Not in a democracy.

OP - with your mentality we would eventually lose all benefits, live in shacks and work for beans. If you keep giving away your benefits and salary - what are you left with - rich corporations and everyone else is in poverty.

You remind me of the movie "Its a Wonderful Life". You would have us living in Pottersville. This is gradually already happening - the erosion of benefits and salary thanks to lemmings like you.

EWENT

I agree totally. How do we help our right leaning friends, family and neighbors see that they have been hoodwinked into supporting tax breaks for the rich and supporting corporate profits? For everyone out there who is dismayed that the disappearing middle class still votes Republican, let's have decent civilized conversations, and quit the name calling. It doesn't help change their minds.

Corporations are in business for profit. US corporations are now competing globally to provide services to people. How is it greedy to want to produce a profit? Is it greedy to go and look for the lowest price for a service? When you buy a car, do you look for the lowest price or the highest? Same with wages. A company, or a household, look for savings. The problem with most peoples views are they think someone else (government, corporations) should take care of them.

Here is a perfect example of The Dumbing of America, The ongoing Drug and Substance Abuse problem, The failures in any form of educational arena, illegal aliens, and just plain lazy. All taking slanderous shots at Union Workers. They are part of The Less Generation---->Clueless and Worthless. Best thing that could happen to these dreggs on Society is the Military rounds them all up. Puts them in Internment Camps and lets Union Guards "Protect" them all day. Time we removed the REAL reason this Country has so many problems. Drug Dealers, Drug Abusers, Uneducated, Street Gangs, Violent Predators, 1st Offenders, Felons, Illegals. No contribution to Society? Rounded up, removed and shipped off to some desolate Island with a pocket knife and a bag of HoHo's. Bye Bye...See Ya.....

When are americans gonna realise that the corporations are trying to bust unions so they can reduce our pay and benefits to the same level as the workers over seas and defund the democratic party. Dem's believe in trickle up and republicans believe in trickle down..or so they say. The only way they can take away our benies and pay structure is by getting rid of unions and stop hiring so people will become desperate and except their cheap arss jobs to survive. We have to stand our ground. These guys are sitting on the countries money waiting for us to give in. The repuklicans are in it with them...you ever notice that most rich guys are republicans???

hard to gert work done with no workers huh?

cele2000

Sorry, no sympathy for the poor old union workers... poor guys and girls just barely scraping by. In the global economy there is no way to sustain American production or service with high priced union level wages. Get used to it. There are a few billion other people who think 15 bucks a day is rich. How do you compete with that, unless all of us, as consumers, demand American made goods.

Buy American or don't buy it, whenver and wherever possble

I guess you would rather we all work for the same wages the wage slaves in china make ? you are an ignorant fool and everyone on this borad should consider you a traitor.

Sorry no I don't have a min wage job and I don't work for a union. I have a $15 an hour job and do just fine supporting my family with that income so I feel nothing for these people. Again if they wanted to work the would be at work and not on strike.

I am relatively sure they can find people to do their jobs right now for what the company is offering and have them trained to do it just as well in a short period of time. Most peoples problem now are they think the company needs them and it can not survive with out them...well guess again.

As far as this keeping jobs in America this could just very well make them send even more jobs overseas to save cost. Lets face it if I owned a company it would be to make money and would not think twice about it.

@ The Banker SEIG HEIL! Obviously anyone who disagrees with you is on drugs and a criminal because they resist your socialist ideology. By the way, in print it would be libel, not slander LOL! No court in the land would uphold that point of view. Also, like many liberals, you look down on the "uneducated" when in fact your own educations are suspect... Liberal Arts doesn't count;) (reminds me of a union carpenter I knew who thought he was superior to everyone because of his degree in cinematography, I didn't have the heart to tell him I had a degree in chemistry; it would've destroyed his fragile little ego.)

Good comment. More sensible than the rest of us have made no matter which side you are on.

Pen Rules...I gave up Verizon ages ago. Once they started allowing all those resellers and I started to see calls I never made on the bill, I knew exactly what Verizon was doing. It opened up its call centers to foreign countries with foreign workers who had relatives or friends here in the US ergo those strange added calls to my bill to places I would never call.

I reported that to the FCC in that mid 1990's and Verizon had to apologize only after I agreed they'd reimburse me for over $250 worth of calls I'd been billed but never made. Learn not to deal with corporations because they have no real reason to resolve issues like this. It's money in their pockets. I always take it to the highest authority...the federal government. The FCC and FTC are more than happy to help with these kinds of problems and they do it efficiently and timely.

ewent- THIS STORY IS ABOUT LAND LINE NOT CELLULAR

I am sure mr union MEMBER that is what you are TOLD to think by the union bosses. You ever see union dues reduced or union bosses work for free.

The union workers are not fighting for more, they just trying to keep what they have.

Hey John.

I'm a Union President of a small local in Florida I work for free everyday for my members. I get paid a whooping 250.00 a month to help my my members. It is a thankless job but my people know that I dont take the companys crap and I am on my members side.

I work 40 hours a week out in the sun and 100+ degree temps and then I represent my members who are suspended for a dead battery in a piece of test equip, suspended for an accident where the other guy was ticketed and our guy was not at fault, or suspended because they got stung by a wasp while working. You call me greedy? Your problem is you have no basis to make such statements. Stop drinking the kool-aid. these companies are ruining our country and you cannot even fathom what we 'Greedy" union officials endure from them every day.

Envy blinds even the smartest man aqua. Stand tall brother. UE 255 stands with you . We don't need less unions, people. We need more. We are losing our fighting chance!

Thank you for speaking up brother!! I couldn't count the hours I have spent unpaid, time lost with family and friends all in the name of helping members in need. My phone is always on, 24/7. I am such a thug I actually ran for office and was elected by my peers, unlike any CEO out there who is elected by his board, and we all know how that works for all of them!!! There is a serious need for people to be educated. As an officer I to know there are problems within the union; there are problems within corporate america and government too.

They want to keep free healthcare? Who, besides unions, have had free healthcare in 10 years. Get real!

cele2000...How about you face facts? If healthcare in the US wasn't so goddamn expensive in the first place, people could afford to pay out of pocket. You can't make the case that healthcare for the same medical procedures in the US have to cost 100 times more than other countries of the world. HMOs smelled big bucks when they first appeared on the scene with their "control costs" BS. Sure...they controlled costs...for themselves...not the people paying their high ass premiums.

Let's not pretend that HMOs are the most guilty of fraud and misuse of consumer funds. They call up to 80% of the premiums their customers pay them "Profit". Nice BS line. Then, they take that 80% invest it in high risk investments or help themselves to obscene salaries like that jackass CEO of Healthcare South.

When those high risk investments don't make pretty huge profits, they up the cost of healthcare insurance premiums, jack the copays and deductibles and then drop policies they deem "too expensive".

How about decreasing prices? Or is that too much rational critical thinking? And who is it that has the most influence to do that if not the CEOs of all of the other hotcha Big Businesses?

ep1237...Not true. Employers are voracious greedheads today. All you need to do to prove that is ask anyone who was lucky enough to remain employed in this economy. I am 100% pro-union because I know what it means to not be part of a union...salaries that stagnate to keep Mr. CEO's salary fat, dumping healthcare costs up to 35% on employees, dropping 401Ks and pensions...and where exactly did this get this country?

FREE healthcare? Look at Medicaid and they don't even have to work!

Survive...Medicare isn't free dahlink...I pay for it every pay period as a deduction....Don't you? If not, why not? Is it because you live in a red state that dumps healthcare costs on the federal government, meaning the rest of us? If I pay for it goddamn it, I expect the same ROI you get for your investment dividends and 401K.

cele2000: What makes you think the healthcare is free? It is given in lieu of an earned wage as are other benefits given with jobs. All I hear is your jealousy not your concern about greed. And they certainly can outsource the landline work. They have already. A lot of the virtual wiring work can be done remotely by computer. Doesn't matter what country it comes from.

They want to keep free healthcare? Who, besides unions, have had free healthcare in 10 years. Get real!

I work for a union, and in a government job as well. I do not get free healthcare. Nor do I get a free retirement package. I pay into both. Back in the days when there were actually jobs available in America I could have made more in the private sector. I have paid into my health care through direct contributions and lower earnings. Luckily I am old and my children are gone. I can't imagine how I would raise a family with what is coming in now. We are not gouging the public.

"Survive...Medicare isn't free dahlink...I pay for it every pay period as a deduction....Don't you?"-ewent

ewent----I did not say MediCARE----I said MediCAID-------please read my post without jumping to the wrong meaning-thank you.

MrMetroXFi...Some reason there even needs to be "fine print"? Some reason they can be more transparent? They expect consumers to be fully transparent don't they? What entitles them to play "fine print" games?

It's time Americans got back to basics. There is zero need for "fine print". There is no reason Americans have to be transparent with corporations who refuse the same level of transparency.

Unfortunately, the law prevents Verizon to fire those employees on strike. Life is not fair, the have always complain about not having more; while the 10% unemployed just wishing to get a job. They should have a law (like Clear and Present Danger) where people can't strike during when the unemployment figure is above 3%.

Chris, there should also be a law stating that a company can't close a profitable plant when the unemployment rate is above 3%. I worked for a company that was purchased by a thug company that closed the only plant that made a profit in my company last year.

Chris, one more thing.. Do you think Verizon is going to cut their executive pay and compensation by the same percentage? You and I both know the answer to that question.

Maybe Verizon can take 45,000 people out of unemployment. How long do you think the unions will continue to strike if that happens? Is there a rule that said those union workers could not be replace while they are on strike?

Hey brains, whether u like it or not, our jobs require SKILLS that people off the street are not BORN with. Its a craft job, this isnt flipping burgers at McDonalds. Youre all so ignorant with your comments. The companys proposals would give my family about a $-15,000 net loss next year. I ( we) am supposed to sit back and just take it in the a$$ because theres high unemployment? This company makes billions upon billions in profit every year. If you think we have it so well, organize a union into your workplace.

So how much are you currently making? I know 45,000 people who are making $0. You know a -15,000 net loss mean you will need to balance the budget to spend 15k less then last year. Or is that unheard of to live withing your means?

natranat

So how much are you currently making? I know 45,000 people who are making $0. You know a -15,000 net loss mean you will need to balance the budget to spend 15k less then last year. Or is that unheard of to live withing your means?

You are clueless... Let me enlighten you. Here is Verizons profit statements that clearly show the dividends went UP every year to STOCKHOLDERS while there net profit went down ... whats wrong with that picture...

Yeah blame the union because you are broke and unemployed...

The corporations want you as a low wage slave with high tech skills. Kinda like China and India huh? Maybe you should move there...they have ALLOT OF JOBS right now...better hurry before the dead peasants gravy train runs out and they move to Brazil!

P.S. The CEO of Verizon made 17.5 mill last year...

I am indepenet and have all I need. But, I am 100% in favor of unions. They are the one group that fought against outsourcing for slave labor.

Germany is heavily unionized and they have better wages, better benefits, full health care and a higher standard of living than the US. They also have labor represented on their corporate boards. More of Verizon's workers need to join the union and stand up against the greed that is destroying America. We have an obscene income and wealth gap and it will not get better if we don't organize against this insane greed.

Germany is heavily unionized and they have better wages, better benefits, full health care and a higher standard of living than the US

BWAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!

Pardon me, was that supposed to be a joke?

Lets see, if the American Economy took 45,000 jobs at $27 per hour out, and put 45,000 other people to work at $9 per hour that would be good or bad for the American Economy?

That was a simple fact. But; if you think it's funny; Enjoy.

Flem - well it would certainly improve the corporate bottom line because you know they are not going to reduce the price they charge for their services. However, it would take about $48,000 (gross wages) per worker out of the consumption and revenue stream per year - So I'm thinking it would be bad for the economy. We apparently have not reached the point yet where corporations have decided that there is a time when they pay people so little, they can not afford the products they produce. On the other hand, I belonged to a government employee union for many years and we always paid part of our medical insurance, life insurance, retirement and had the option of an unmatched deferred income account. We also took wage reductions and employee lay-offs when the state was in financial difficulty. The negotiations weren't pretty but in the end we hammered them out.

Pretty typical for telcom strike. Company makes lots of threats to trick the union into going on strike. Saves lots of salary while on strike and can keep the customers from leaving by using managers to do critical work. They can blame the union for delays and most customers will not leave them. Then they give in to the union but the net effect is they saved more in not paying salary.

Its not like manufacturing where you need lots of bodies to do the work, the managers can easily keep things running for quite some time.

Chris

Then nobody could strike and companies will just take all their benefits away, and then what they going to do? work for minimum wage, no benefits, might as well be on unemployment

Yea and Germany will lose 10% of it's GDP if the US closes the Military bases in Germany.

willowbrook...Unions are the reason corporations can't go nutso bankrupting consumers and taxpayers. So in addition to protection of workers rights, they also keep a lid on the corporate greed that would only grow more and more out of control. Do you want to become an employee of government that's been turned into a Corporate Profit-Driven enterprise? How is that not regressing back to England of the 1600's?

If Middle Class Americans don't stand behind unions, they lose the most. If for no other reason, than you hand employers the axe to do as they please. Where's the professionality in a legal and binding contract of hire between employer and employee?

Union is a bully way to demand for higher wage/benefit. If they think their "skill" worth more than what they are compensated, then go find another jobs like the rest of us. Oh, did I mention that the "skill" that the union members are claiming are just specific job training provided by the company to their union employees for specific jobs... therefore, the company can just pick up any idiot off the street and train them the "skill" to take over any union job. That is exactly what Verizon had done in the past 6 months. They required their non union employees to get additional training (in spare time) while doing their current job to be prepared to step in when the union employees are on strike (contingency plan). Also, if you pay attention to the number, there are 45K union employees on strike; but it only take around 10K non union employees to step in.... what does that mean? This means that the union "skill" job is definitely replaceable and far more efficient.

Chris,

I am a verizon employee, I have a BS in electronics and an Associates in Telecommunication Technology, I have worked for RCA and Analogic, non-union companies. I was a non union worker in both of those jobs for 15 years, and both of those employers treated their employees like garbage, and the reason why? Because they could!! You have no recourse when you are not treated fairly in a non-union job. I once had my annual raise taken away because I took my vacation by the day and not by the week. I went to human resources and they told me that it was not against company policy, I asked what I could do, they told me that the division I worked in (customer service) may have a different policy? I asked for a division policy handbook, but there isn't one. The division policy is given by the Vice President, who alone knows the rules, the day after I got my work exceeds expectations review with no raise, the vacation policy was posted on the wall. I asked to talk to the Vice President, I explained that I didn't know the policy, and all my vacation time (one week) was approved by my supervisor, He told me that he would would take it up with him but my review stayed the same! And my recourse?

Just do your job and be happy you have one, just like you said. At the time I was a Lead Technician repairing MRI 3 phase 15 Kilovolt Power Supplies. I was lucky enough to take the telephone company exam and pass, and have now worked there 14 years.

Can't you see whats happening out there? Sure when you are out of work you say you'll take one of the union jobs at minimum wage. Don't be mad at the unions, they are fighting for the middle class workers, what you should be mad at is that there are not more union jobs in the private sector, just like the Corporate Elite lobby for. This country was built on union labor, we are now becoming a minimum wage country, with the obscenely rich and the extremely poor. We MUST get out of the Global Free trade economy and back to this nation first, through laws or by tariffing the products produced somewhere other that the United States. Our current tariff is less than 2% in 1790 it was 15%. We cannot compete against slave labor unless you want to become slave labor, it's that simple. see "outsourcing".

Thanks, Miker. You can appreciate both sides of the picture. For some reason, the nay sayers think Verizon employees live in the lap of luxury. We're just middle class people. They don't know what is expected in our terms of employment. I'm retired, my pension has been decreased & it wasn't too great anyway. I gave up so much of my life working for them but I was brought up with a good work ethic, knew enough not to bite the hand that feeds me. No matter how much we griped (everyone gripes - I don't care where you work!!!), we were a family & we had loyalty. We made sure we provided good service (I was in billing). I almost took the serv. rep test - they were non-union but made more money than I did when I became mgt. In '89, they moved one bus. office into our main bldg. and the reps had to cross the line. The strike lasted 15 weeks (the pretense of healthcare again) & the reps were lined up, waiting to get in the union. All those yrs. of Verizon 'treating' them so well backfired. Hopefully, it will backfire on them again. The union needs to get Wireless in.

My son is a splice service tech now with 12 yrs. in. He, too, has a good work ethic, a boss he likes, he puts in his numbers & then some. He's out there climbing poles, running wire in all kinds of weather. It's his job, takes pride in his work, never gets a call back on his work. He'll even be running wire in someone's basement, spot something wrong like wood rot & tell the customer what he saw. If that isn't customer service, I don't know what is. He's 34, a husky guy, has developed arthritis & is working on an ulcer. He won't cross that line, for sure. I just don't know how much more abuse his body can take. He gets so angry - trucks are in disrepair, don't have adequate tools to work with, GPS installed in the trucks & numbers - it's always been about the numbers.

People on here who rant about landlines being a loser - well, their Fios, wireless was built on the back of profits from landlines. I'll never get rid of mine - in 40 some yrs. I never had 1 problem with it. It's never gone out due to storms, anything. If Verizon had maintained the wiring, it wouldn't be a problem. It's less expensive to maintain. I know what it costs to put Fios into one home - not a money maker!!!!

I heard that Seidenberg has exited the premises, taking his millions with him. People don't believe that there's a laundry list a mile long of concessions that the company wants. In essence, it wants to take away just about everything we old-timers fought to get. People think it's about healthcare, bennys. They don't understand. It's not just about the tangibles, it's about the intangibles like the grievance process, bidding, security.

It's Verizon at its finest - all of this is an attempt to break the union. It's plain & simple. Those who have never worked there don't understand that. Those who would love a job there, let's see if they can pass pole-climbing school. Not too many do.

It's a tough co. to work for - hopefully, Verizon will bite itself in the foot on this one....

im guessing there isnt 100 other concessions, i doubt there are 100 terms.../ issues... but i would bet money, serious money that the average union worker did not see the companies offer..... they may hate seen a bullet list of the issues that the union reps have prepared for distribution to the masses...

i would also guarantee that at least half the issues on the bullet list is wrong, and 25% is concession/negotiation fluff, and 25% that actuallyu will be in play and or have affect...

I can also bet that if unions have thier way, there wont be a verizon in 35 years to be able to collect pensions and or benefits... or sooner...

Unions are the reason we have correct health care and we have safe work places? I thought it was because we have educated and trained doctors, nurses and rest of the staff and I thought OSHA handled workplace safety.

@FogOfWar, The union has to take into consideration the current economy? What about the CEO that is taking home MILLIONS!!! And what about the other 5 top guys taking home MILLIONS!!!! And what about the BILLIONS in profit that Verizon made last year?

You say wireless is the one making the money and you are correct! HOWEVER without the WIRELINE business there would never have been a wireless business... They have built the company on the backs of wireline employees for many years, it is only fair that they pay them back in turn...

@jump - well, there are. I've seen the list. Collect pensions???? Are you serious?? My pension after 32 yrs., is just under $12K a yr. & has been since I retired in '95. No COLAs, nothing. Verizon, like the gov't. has been underfunding the pension fund for several yrs. My son doesn't expect to collect a pension from them. With 12 yrs. in, he sees the writing on the wall, that there's no job security.

The 'average union worker' has seen the company's 'offer' - there isn't one. It's all take-aways.

Not the company I worked for - I cuold see the writing on the wall after the 15 week strike in '89. The last thing I wanted him to do was work for them. It's too bad because he's so good at his job but he's talented - he'll land on his feet.

blame the company for you not setting yourself up for retirement? stupid!

Unions are the reason we have OSHA. One of the reasons we have more doctors etc is that it became illegal for children to work and they had to go to school - also a result of unionization. Did anyone think some politician thought these things up and decided it would be a good idea? Before people bash unions they need to do some research into the working and living conditions of the general population before unions. Start with mines, Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, child labor, industrial accidents, public sanitation, unsafe housing etc. etc. On the other hand, the biggest complaint I had about my union (from both a member and management perspective over the years) was our almost complete inability to fire lazy, unproductive and downright criminal employees based on rules that required us to spell out the fact (and provide warnings) that you can't hack other people's e-mail, you can't call the clients foul names, you can't harrass your co-workers, you can't sign off on work that you didn't do, and you can't stock your home office with company supplies for free. My guess is that some of those 45,000 employees are necessary only to get the work done for a certain number who don't produce but the company can't get rid of.

NEWS FLASH!!!!!! WIRELESS is only wireless from your cell to the cell tower. Then it's WIRELINE. Verizon uses wireline workers to install and maintain that network. If you use any cell phone from any company it goes though the local phone network that was built and maintain by the very same union workers. Another news flash, ALL INTERNET TRAFFIC IS IN THAT SAME NETWORK!, yes even if you have cable. Verizon shifts the profits to the wireless side of the books and the cost to the wireline to support it's anti-worker position.

jackson...How do employees set up a retirement plan when they don't get salary increases for a decade? When their employers dump back the cost of healthcare on their employees that effectively reduces those salaries further?

You can't find one goddamn reason for any CEO to earn a hundred billion a year in the US that isn't tied to layoffs, ripping off consumers with price gouging and an attempt to make big money do all their work for them.

@jimmyo- You would be amazed at the number of completely ignorant a$$ clowns there are who think that Verizon mixes up a batch of magical wireless dust and scatters it on the towers and cellphones to make them work. These same idiots think that we are greedy making a "decent" living while there hearts go out to the poor company and its damn near broke CEO who only makes $17 million a year. These are the same people that think the reason Verizon service is so sh&!!y is because of the technician or the operator. It couldn't possibly be because Verizon is not investing in the infrastructure could it? Wake up America!!!! Get your head out of the sand and look around!!!! The middle class is going to be NO MORE! If we don't fight ther will be two tax brackets: people who make over a milluion a year (2% of the population) and the rest of us!!!!!

The CEO made 17.5 million last year because the CEO is responsible for over 196,000 employees, billions of capitol and assets, and retaining 185 million customers. What have you done lately?

@ Nate- So your stupid enough to believe that the CEO makes the company run! That is as dumb as saying the President alone runs the country! You moron wake up!!!!! Quit sniffing the conservative glue. If the contract is settled and we all take drastic pay and benefit cuts do you think for a second Verizon will translate them into savings for the consumer? I'll answer for you because you are apparently to dumb: HELL NO! Also Verizon made $6 Billion in profits last year despite having to pay for 45000 Union members. And as far as what I have done, I actually work to help repair telephone lines for Verizon's customers, you know, the ones who actually pay my salary. Verizon is just a middle man looking to take what they can!!!!

The wireline issue was an obvious oversight on my part - a moment of brain - hand disconnect.

I also understand that the company, ceo and board of directors are all waaaaay overpaid, egotistical money grabbers. However, this doesn't change the fact that the company will do anything possible to break the union, including a smear campaign that will make them look like greedy hogs. Why is so much of the company non-union? Is the company paying people to not join so when the numbers get low enough they can sweep the union under the carpet? All people see is the union dues they would have to pay and they probably get the same benefits as the union people without having to pay out the money, that should change.

Unfortunately unions have been demonized since Jimmy Hoffa, and I don't think that is going to change. People used to be proud to be a union worker, now you don't want to tell your friends out of fear of being blamed for every financial woe of the country. Can unions keep jobs in the US? I hope so.

What we going to see a repeat of history. There will be leaders (Kings) and there will be big business owners (Lords) and the poor working class (Commons or serfs), there will be no so called middle class because they might rock the boat. Education will falter (already happening if your not able to send your kids to private school), incomes will follow (also already in the works), and America will fade from the spotlight. Then, and only then, will jobs come back to America, when the wages are lower than the countries they are in now.

Can the unions stop it? Can anyone stop it?

It is obvious that you know little to nothing about unions and union history. Unions can only call a strike when their members vote to call a strike. Before you attack unions why don't you do a little research. We only have child labor laws because of unions. You only have the 8 hour day because of unions and the 40 hour week, because of unions. If you read a little history of labor and unions and corporations in this country alone, you might become enlightened. But, I doubt you will do that. I have gone through two depressions and have read our history and the history of other countries as well. Jefferson warned us against the extended power of corporations stealing our country out from under us. If you question this, just look up his quotations on the internet and you will see that I am correct. Corporations were so feared by our founding fathers that they only allowed them to be set up for 6 month periods and only with a public interest component. That could be extended, but only if the public interest justified it.

exatcly experienced! unions are antiquaited. they had a place in HISTORY and now there are laws in place to protect the worker. you are paying dues to a fake company (unions) that dont do anything for you. dont pay for medical benifits?! no one does that any more. this thread is stupid you keep thinking that unions do anything for you and kee[aying your dues. stupid!

Without unions, how long do you think it will take for corporations and governments (Wisconsin? Supreme Court) to gut the laws that took decades to create out of the labor movement? Unions need to adapt to a modern economy that experiences obsolescence at a ever increasing rate and requires a mobile and continually re-trained/educated work force, but they are far from antiquated

Jackson, the only stupid is you.

Unions are there to protect your workers rights, not pay your medical benefits. yes there are laws, but who is going to enforce it? You think average workers can afford to pay $350 an hour to labor lawyer to enforce this laws? you are moron , you don't know anything about unions do you

those laws are already being gutted and their trying to bring back child labor right now.

Unions no longer have anything to do with what Non-Union workers make, the new American Economy does not work that way. There was a time and place for Unions long, long ago. Now they do no good for any non-union worker or family other than raise the cost over every single product or service they provide. Just once I would like to see a Union buy or create they own business and run it to success and profits instead of always holding companies and their customers hostage. If you do not like your wage, benefits, pension, work environment than go find another job and let someone else step in place- it really is that simple, stop holding companies hostage and go elsewhere.

UAW - oh my... you really need to get a clue. If you honestly believe the corporations are going to look out for your interests, think again.

Do away with unions and rely on the federal laws in place now?

Once unions are done away with, watch how fast they change those laws.

You will be screaming then.

BJ no clue needed here, we who are not in a Union know Unions are hindering us and this country now. Its you Union folks who need to get a clue and get with the program.

Speak for yourself, UAW. I'm not an idiot. I know what intentions of the highest corporate layer are...I WORK IN IT...in this country. Turn the middle class into low-paid drones with no rights of redress. The Unions will be what save you from being turned into a $2 clone of a guy in China, which is what Corporate America intends, with the help of the Tea Party idiots...who still haven't figured out that they are voting against their own best interests... and their GOP Masters.

In the old days, union is a grass-root organization fighting for the people. Nowadays, union is just a bunch of lawyers and consultants (greedy professionals) get together pretending to collectively fighting for the weak; but they are the ones exploiting the weak. Go look up to see how much the union bosses are paid and what kind of bonus they get... all of a sudden, the CEOs don't look as bad, because they actually focus on building the company and create jobs.

Nope Greedy Corporate America

Verizon Corporate Employees take home alot more than you really want to know

and their stockholders even more.

Union employees aren't the greedy ones

Corporate America is sitting on alot of cash. Read the writing on the wall

sounds like jealousy to me. you should have stayed in school and got a better education. then maybe you would have been on the top making all the money. well the world needs ditch diggers too.

So now it's the workers fault that health care cost are high?. Not greedy ins companies?, Not greedy doctors who over bill?, Not greedy lawyers who sue anything that moves?, Not greedy drug companies who would rather have you die that make a penny less?. Wow your right, we should all just happily pay more, we should never question why, just pass the cost on to the people.

World Travel

Post office is not broke. that nice media illusion. Just because you don't have any benefits and your job sucks don't be jeoulous

So I guess we should just screw those who do the work jackson? That attitude is why unions are still needed.

Have you noticed how many college grads are having a difficult time finding work and settling for low paying jobs outside of their field of study? They stayed in school and got a better education.

World...Healthcare premiums are not increasing because of unions. To make that kind of case, you'd have to admit that HMOs do the bidding of employees...they don't. And, let's not pretend that those in Big Business who bitch the most about the cost of employee healthcare are not themselves complicit in helping HMOs to continue to increase healthcare costs for no other reason than greed.

Corporations have huge influence on their fellow associates. They have the most influence over HMOs and could demand they lower the costs. They won't. They are all in bed together. For every CEO who sits on the board of one corporation, count on it, he's in bed with 6 others.

Not sure what Verizon employees pay 'nothing' towards their health care but it's certainly not all of them... my husband works for Verizon (note: he's not union and not on strike) and he gets his monthly premium deducted from his checks...

I understand that Verizon landline and Verizon wireless are two 'separate' companies, not sure which one the employees on strike work for.

@20+something, Verizon and Verizon Wireless are the same company not two separate companies... The striking members are UNION members, not all Verizon employees are union members...

Your husband is obviously not a union member, hence why he is paying into his medical...

Verizon Wireless is owned by 50% Verizon Communications and 50% Vodaphone.

mojo...Keep going...You'll see who is on the Verizon Board of Directors...and it will shock the bejeesus out of you.

Yes it will! A former head of the SEC the former head of the transportation Department and the former Sectretary of the treasury. Mix them in with a bunch of other COO's and CEO's from companies like Royal Dutch Shell and Darden Restaurants(Red Lobster, Bahama Breeze, Olive Garden, Long Horn Steakhouse, etc..) and you really see that they all ( the corporate elite) watch each others backs! Hell each one of them sit on at least one other Board of Directors. Just how deep does the rabbit hole go?

dwightthuth..... are you nuts or are being facetious?

U.S. military has a fleet of 12 aircraft carriers, China is building it's 1st ONE. Agree these ARE NOT for defensive purposes. But let's be real and not spread misimformation with such hatred intended to decieve. The truth is China's gov't. is not a favorite of mine. BUT the last I looked, it was the US involved in multi wars, military bases in over 160 foriegn locations, responsible for almost 2 million civilian deaths recently all on the premise of war against terrorism? WHO? Such wars can never be won. Besides,if some believed the american bankers destroyed the worlds economy thru fraud,larceny,greed,would it be acceptable to start bombing the U.S.A.? Heck NO!!! Peace

Dwight & Ralph - I think you are on the wrong blog....

this is about the Verizon strike...

We have laws and standards for our safety and the safety of our children in the workplace. unions have NOTHING to do with that. If unions were to go away (and btw at the height of their power they weren't but 30% and now there's like 13% and most union workers are in govt which is why we can't get anything done.) but if they go away, our laws would still be there.

Well, we need to get to work on a Constitutional amendment againt workers rights and laws that pertain to them. Let individual states decide what laws, if any, they want to abide by. If kids had to work at age 12 or so, they would turn into better people. And the feds have no right telling states what they can do or not do in the workplace. It's in the constitution....

You keep tellin'em, I exalt Jesus!

wow, two idiots, MarcothePolo and I Exalt Jesus.

First of all you haven't read the Constitution did you? because there is nothing states that unions are prohibited. If not for the union we would still have slave shops all over US with kids and adults working 90 hours a week with minimum wage and no benefits.

"When is America going to wake up and realize that unions are the cause of our country's downfall?"

It's unlikely, since many of us have brains and can think for ourselves rather than taking mindless talking points from our GOP Over Lords. You should try it...thinking for yourself doesn't hurt at all.

"We have laws and standards for our safety and the safety of our children in the workplace. unions have NOTHING to do with that"

I Exalt Jesus, you are such a flaming ignoramus it takes the breath away. The Unions were the ones who got us those rights. It scares me that I have to share my country with people that ignorant.

wow you never did your history homework in H.S. , if we didnt have Unions we

would all be having another Civil war between the poor and the rich.Simillar to

the french revolution just not as brutal. Unions are essential to protecting

rights of AMERICANS including yourself. If you didnt have a union you would

be working 90 hour work weeks with pennies on the table. We would be

dead but Id guess you wouldnt mind that. Coorporate Pigs need to fall

mama

What is your Union JOB???

Yes, I'm jealous, but look for no sympathy from me when your job goes overseas because you've made yourself inefficient and unafordable.

I am so glad I do not have a union job. I earn a nice salary, have bonus and stock options. We have no unions in our company, and everyone gets treated well.

I used to work in a right to work state, and my plant was a non union plant. Guess what, we were paid better than the union plants. Everytime there was a cutback, they cut union plants back and kept us running full force. What did their unions get them?

Everyone wants to keep bashing corporate CEO compensation, what kind of salary does the head of your union make? Is he sharing with you?

what kind of salary does the head of your union make? Is he sharing with you?

And the crowds went eerily silent.....

If the jobs go overseas no longer should these companies look for American charters for their business if it isn't located on these shores....nor contracts from the local or national governments here ....nor protection from our country of any sort to cut deals for them or save their butts....if China wants to do a state take over of their company, as they sometimes decide to do with nationals there, so be it...They don't belong to us ...Not our problem....and sending jobs abroad for others to be mistreated and underpaid with doesn't win us friends and NO.... it isn't "more money there"...Americans too can live the same here 250 to 300 per month in a 16 x 20 room with 6 to 8 other workers, little freedom, protection, possessions, or benefits.

About 100k a year, no he doesn't share it with me. My CEO makes 28,000,000, he doesn't share that either.

See what College degrees can do for you?

The reason jobs going overseas, because politicians give companies tax loops holes and incentives to do it. Unless you want our workers to get paid $1 hour.

Mark, you lying, there is no way they would cut union shops before, non union shops. take your lies somewhere else.

Unions are nothing more than a special interest group that looks after their own members. The strange thing about union history is that they haven't done what supposedly is their main objective which is to save jobs. The member that have remained and now lost their jobs due to unreasonable demands have benefited that is for sure. But the number of union jobs has drastically declined over the years except in the public union arena which now is seeing the declines.

We had a big union plant in my town for many years that slowly demanded themselves out of a job. It really is sad that workers are so short-sighted about what exactly a global economy means. If one competitor is making .88/hr and another is making 12/hr it just doesn't take a genius to figure out where the demand for the product will be.

Sorry marksim80 but I also work in a right to work state and it usually is a union job that will go before a non union job...it is just much cheaper to get rid of them first.

I have seen several states deal with their union problems in different ways lately...one town fired every member of the city union thus voiding their contracts and tenur and let them know some might be hired back later...all starting over from day one...this prevented people from being bumped out of their jobs by senior union members...just recently a city filed bankruptcy after the unions refused to negotiate which terminated all contracts and all members lost all retirement and health plans.

The beauty of a right to work state is just because you are in a union will not give you more right to keep your job than a non union member...most of the time you will be the first to go.

Hey Mamma, I had a union job once. Graphic Arts and Communications union. I am glad I left that job. It made absolutely no sense why I would try to produce more work than the guy sitting next to me when I would not be able to make more money than he did. I was trapped in the journeyman scale. You can have that all you want. There was no monetary incentive to try and produce more work than the next guy.

Boston, I, too, worked for Verizon and now my son does. These people don't understand that Verizon is an entity unto itself. Until the IBEW came in in '71, we had 3 separate 'federations', each with a different contract/benefits. A $1 raise every 6 months till you hit the 5 yr. mark, then you got a $5 a week raise. I started in '67, right out of high school.

Once the union came in, things really improved. we got true representation. If you had a gripe, you had a rep.

Yes, I read my prospectus as a stockholder. What senior mgt. gets is absolutely outrageous. My sister was our union steward, executive board rep. and did bargaining. There was more than enough in that pension fund. I read an article on the internet within the past yr. Like the gov't, Verizon has been underfunding the pension fund for several yrs. now.

Back then, there were no 401s, IRAs. By the time they came into being, as a single mom, I couldn't put money into them until the kids were almost grown.

Now I get a lousy $980 a month for 32 yrs. of service. I just hit 62, have to file for SS or I won't be able to pay the rent never mind anything else. No COLA in our pensions - never was, never will be. Pensions have been phased out for regular mgt. as has their benefits. This is what the company is trying to do to its active employees - reduce the pension till it doesn't exist.

Yes, Mr. Seidenberg & his cohorts have done quite well for themselves, haven't they????

How much were you making an hour when you retired ?

"A $1 raise every 6 months till you hit the 5 yr. mark, then you got a $5 a week raise. I started in '67, right out of high school, 32 yrs. of service."

Were all these raises to your base pay per hour ? If so, were you making like $7,030 / hr when you retired assuming your starting base pay was $10 when you were hired ?

Or were the raises just added afterwards to your paycheck, ex: you made $400 a week then a $5 raise, you made $405 then $410, $415 upwards ($260+ per year) and didn't get a base pay increase.

Or $10 raise to base pay after 5 years then just $5/week to weekly check ?

Then never got a base pay increase ?

BS back in 1967 $10/hour would have been almost unheard of? I started working in '83 and minimum at that time was around $3.35/hour. I don't even want to know what minimum wage was in '67.

Anyway, if lesmax started in '67 and was there when the union came in in '71 then she would have gone through 8 periods where she was given a $1 raise ($1 every 6 months over a 4 year period). She wouldn't have hit the $5/week raise at the 5 year mark because they became unionized at her 4 year point. Even at $10/hour starting pay that would mean she was making $18/hour at the point of unionization. Now using common sense I don't think she continued to receive that compensation package over the next 28 years. At $7030/hour she'd have made $281,200/week, $14,622,400/year at retirement. I guess what I'm saying is most reasonable people would assume that she got $1/week added to her pay until the 5 year mark then $5 per week added. But we all know what happens when we make assumptions: you come up with some stupid cr*p like "...If so, were you making $7030 / hr when you retired..."

I think I'm detecting some BS....



LOL, Ian-97330, that's why I added my second comment cause I knew I was snarky. Her comment was a $1 raise every 6 months till you hit the 5 yr. mark - she didn't say the union cut that in '71 so it was assumed that she reached the 5 yr. mark, just as much as you assumed the union did cut that. She said once the union came in, things really improved. Not to the negative.

That's why I was wondering if & when it was for base-pay otherwise that is a crappy pay increase for all those years. Ex: A 3% pay increase would have gotten her more $$$ in all those years and a union would probably gotten her more than that.

Well let me see. 980 PER MONTH works out to be 6.12 per HOUR,assuming it is FULL TIME. ISN'T MINIMUM WAGE 7.25???? SOME THING WRONG HERE.

Back in '67, the min. wage was $1.25 LOL..I hit the big time working at the phone co. - $1.44 per hr for a 37.5 hrs work week. My 1st check was a whopping $54. before Fed. tax. There weren't so many taxes then. I'd hand my parents $10 for room & board on Friday, banked $5 every week, ate lunch out every day with my friends, no one had a car but we'd either borrow our parents or bus it to head for the movies. I had nice clothes, still did all my assigned chores at home.

When we voted IBEW in, we had actual union representation, grievance procedures, job bids and I forget what the original contract called for in raises. Eventually, it was based on COLA. I think after about 5/6 yrs, I was making somewhere in the range of $80 a week.

With the cut I took in my pension this yr. & taxes going sky high where I live, I should be making about $54 a week again pretty soon.....

Thank you Bill !

Bill-1141543

I'm sick of watching these big companies export our jobs, buy our congress, and do their best to put their emplooyees into economic serfdom.

Well said!

why do you think they export the jobs? high taxes and low worker engagement i am sure is two of the reasons.

So when these jobs go overseas due to expensive labor costs here in America you can all get together at your house and talk about the good old days.

You guys should stop whining about corporate for without them you have zip. They owe you nothing, if you don't like who you work for go elsewhere. Supply and demand Skippy.

Thats true, labor is pricey here. lets move overseas and chain your kids to a sewing machine for a bowl of rice a day, so you can continue to buy cheap crap at walmart. You are a genius my friend! Supply and demand, Yeah!

Umm.... Without employees corporate is zip! It's a working relationship. We provide the work, they provide the pay. If they want cheap labor, well that's what they'll get! And when they out source these jobs to countries where they pay little for labor, who's going to be able to afford their product?!?!?! Surely not the sweatshop worker in a third world country making less than $1/hr!!!

Yes, both sides demonize each other as greedy. The fact is that a company with public stock will die on the vine if they don't show significant profit increases each year. Nobody will invest in them and they eventually become irrelevant. If their margins begin to show erosion they are toast. If they are losing market share to other competitors or even not gaining they are toast.

I do 100 percent agree that top management is way over paid in many corporations. My husband is president over a manufacturing company here in the US that is non-union. Their benefits over the years have increased, and even in this lousy economic environment they have gotten yearly raises and bonuses. Nothing huge, but consistent. My husband isn't getting any perks different from anybody else. So his health care is the same, he gets the same percent of a raise, etc. There are tons of companies that are fair decent places to work where the top management is paid a decent salary but nothing like we often read in the media with many big multi-national companies.

I have worked in union shops before including for the government. IMO, unions went from helping workers get better workplace conditions and benefits to becoming modern grievance collectors that have demanded to improve their members at the expense of all others.

Well said. I wish some of these union workers would remember that there pentions and 401k are tied into the stock markets and the value of the stock is based on the profit the company shows.

I have worked non union for 30 years. If I would have been educated about them sooner I could avoided giving my money to insurance companies for my health instead of the corporations paying for my risk at their profit. These union companies also pay for retirement not a percentage of my own money from less hourly wages in a 401 K plan that may not be there when I retire. The union teaches people to become well educated and become professionals at their trade. This is a free market and unions set the precedents for all labor, though some non union laborers speak without this understanding. Please, remember the coal miners fight for justice. This takes years and lives to get to this level in the history of the union, but working for bread crumbs isn't the answer while CEO's eat caviar. I now pay more in taxes every week than I use to make in 2 weeks. This voice of union labor is the answer to affording steak and potatoes instead of ground meat and bread crumbs. Got milk? Gotta eat! Help support the Verizon union labor because the corporations will eat your lunch.

Bill-1141543

RIGHT ON!!!!! Verizon has not paid a single dime in taxes since 1985.

jackson-3871154

What high taxes are you talking about and who is paying them? Let's hear it. Where is the evidence to your pathetic, rocks for brains statement.

Yo dude they should all be happy they have a job instead of asking for more when so many people are out of work! FIRE them all.

PS: Maybe the union leaders should for go their income to the strikers instead of taking home the same salary as they did before ,during and the raise after?

@Ian-973330 "We provide the work and they provide the pay."

Seriously? You people do realize that management doesn't just sit on thier laurels and collect money right? That's the vibe I'm getting from a lot of these posts. Management needs to lead the company and make decisions regarding operations that result in a profit, reduce expenses, increase efficiency, and provide the highest quality of service to a customer that a company can manage. There's a reson those jobs pay so high...it's because people who are qualified to fill those positions are in high demand and there are very few people who can master the skills needed to do it effectively. High demand, low supply. Price of the labor is therefore higher in comparison to the labor that requires less skill to perform. Anyone can be trained to install wired connections for phone lines. Not everyone can lead a company like Verizon to become the #1 wireless carrier in America.

Also, if you try to pull that argument that the company wouldn't be what it is without its workers, that's true...but you wouldn't be a part of the company in the first place if a manager hadn't recognized that you were the right person for the job and decided to hire you onto the team. Don't prove them wrong by demanding special treatment for performing the same work your coworkers do, and acting like it's something they owe to you because you're some kind of special case who deserves it because you said so.

This is most likely the work of ALEC American Legislative Exchange Council.

They are hard at work busting unions from sea to shining sea. They are helping big companies dissolve unions everywhere and helping states turn into "right to work states" My friend is an employee for Anhenuser Bush in Florida. Though some of the workers there are still union, (he is not) no new hires are union. there is a 10.00 per hour difference in pay.

On a 12 hour day he gets only 30 min for lunch and one 10 minute break. The 10 minute break is at the mercy of the company. Right to work states do not require

an employer to give any breaks. This is what this country is coming to.

I am older and feel sorry for the next generation of workers in this country.

We will see what happens in Wisconsin on Tuesday. God Bless those people for fighting back.

STOP ALEC AND STOP THE KOCH BROS ASAP.

RIGHT TO WORK MEANS=RIGHT TO WORK FOR NOTHING

Sorry dude but if don't like the job get another one! Right to work also means right to fire. Most union are as useful as a tick is to a dog (not). The only people who unions help are the management that runs it. A company that is successful usually pays and rewards those who work hard not the ones who complain how hard they work and do nothing.

These workers are not asking for special treatment, they are just wanting to keep what they have. The whole point of this strike is to keep the wages and benefits they already have. Verizon is making a huge profit and asking their employees to take a pay cut. Which one seems greedy to you?

Bill- 1141543

Answer me this: Why is it that union workers can't pay some of their healthcare premiums while the other 130,000 non-union workers do? It seems like a reasonable request on Verizons' part. I don't know about many of the other changes they want to make...

Verizon, it seems, has itself to blame for "selling the farm" to these workers in the form of concessions, and now it will be difficult to take away many of these benefits.

Sorry, Bill, but this kind of thing is what drives jobs overseas. EXCESSIVE UNION BENEFITS MAKE OUR COMPANIES UNCOMPETITIVE in the world marketplace and the only way to be competitive, in many cases, is to ship the jobs overseas. Need proof? Look at the textile industry first, followed by our auto industry as prime examples. Union workers, in many cases, are their own worst enemy and they are too stupid to realize it until they have lost their job and the plant is closed. Sad, sad.

jackson-3871154

why do you think they export the jobs? high taxes and low worker engagement i am sure is two of the reasons.

#20.3 - Sun Aug 7, 2011 4:22 AM EDT

Jackson - Your statement is ridiculous.

The greedy conglomerates export American jobs to distant lands - so that they can pay foreign workers paltry "salaries." They also export these jobs so that they can pay foreign workers less than the American minimum wage.
Being an ostrich with your head in the sand - does nothing to resolve this huge problem for American workers.

These companies do not have any true allegiance to this country.

Corporate America and the entire financial system is corrupt to the bone. If we don't come together as a people and oppose these pigs and their prostitute government they will soon have us in depression and chaos.

Frankie,

Without corporate America and the people they employ you would have nothing. Without those paychecks and the taxes created you have nothing to fund the government. Not sure why so many just want to tag along on the "big business is bad" when they are the companies you chose to go to work for.

Suck it up and quit whining.

Kneel and lick your master's boots maybe available. Oh, by the way, look up how much Verizon paid in income tax on the BILLIONS they made, ZERO!

Maybe Available

We not against corporate making money, but they have to treat workers with dignity and not like slave owners too.

Maybe available: without the people they employ, where would corporate America be??? If corporate America reduces the paychecks, then taxes are reduced. If taxes are reduced then there's less funding for the government. I'm not saying big business is bad (except when they export jobs to cut labor costs), I'm saying big business shouldn't jerk the employees who make their profits.

Ian and maksin...you are right in that these companies should treat their workers fairly and I agree.

I guess I am fed up with the over the top benefits Unions will push for so they can tell their members "look what I did for you". You need me so send in your dues.

As for jimmyo... whether or not they pay tax is up to Obama and friends. It used to be Bush and friends and each President and Congress prior to that. While everyone seems to think Obama is the savior look at who attends his $40,000 per plate parties, corporate big wigs as that is where he also gets his campaign money.

While Washington DC continually adds rules and taxes that are too high Companies will find a way not to pay. They higher some high priced lawyer to get around those rules. If the taxes were fair they could pay their fair share and not waste the millions of dollars they spend on legal fees trying to avoid those taxes..

By the way, whoever said "without people" there are no corporations was also right but did you know corporations are formed by people. They are not planted in the ground and watered. Usually a couple of guys start something in their garage and if a good enough product and some good employees treated fairly it grows into a bigger and then bigger company. Quit hating corporations, they truly do create jobs. Also remember your own wealth to someone. Do the right thing for yourself and your family and you will be rewarded. You are not owed anything so if you get a job, do your best to be the best and more times then not when the cuts come, you will still be there.

non union right to work states means right to work for nothing.

welcome to the united cooperation of america.

destroy "alec" and the koch bros

Because Unions are no longer good for this country. They do nothing but raise the cost of each and every single service and product they are connected with. Unions in the Public sector should end as they only increase the burden on the true taxpayers of this country. Any company connected with wallstreet is all about profits, when profits drop the stock value typically drops. It time Unions step to the plate and buy or create their own companies rather than strike, than they can use it and compensate themselves as they see fit.

UAW: You are a moron! I am not allowed to strike by law. Maybe we should though. Let out a lot of felons who can rob you, rape your wife, rape your children all while they make you watch. Hmmm I wonder how you would like that? I work a minimum of 171 hours in a 28 days. My counterparts work 160 hours in that same time frame. They wanted more hours out of us because of the cost to John Q. Taxpayer. So we decided to cut our pay by 2.5 Percent as a union. I am also a union rep and guess what I make for that? Absolutely nothing! I have been spit at, I have had fecal and urine matter thrown at me, I have had staples dipped in fecal matter spit at me. Why because I was doing my job and protecting the public.....But it was the union who finally got a law passed to charge these people with a crime.

Maybe you should thank a union member for looking out for you as a citizen!

Newsflash, large companies have always been tied to the stock market and profits! This is not some new concept! Organized labor created the middle class in this country, and for some reason conservatives can't stand the fact that ordinary people should do well too! Labor costs only amount to around 10% of a companies overhead, especially in manufacturing. If we woke up tomorrow and there were no unions, the entire wage scale in this country would collapse and we would return to sweatshops! Oh, and those corporate profits you spoke of would evaporate as well!

Without unions, UAW, all our corporations would conduct business like Walmart!! It is mind-boggling that there are so many morons like YOU who defend billionaire CEOs and the Walmarts of the world who use and abuse their employees, not giving a damn about them as hardworking human beings who just want a decent quality of life! You probably have the audacity to call yourself a Christian too!

@ Wendy P Nobody said anything about religion, so I see absolutely no need or benefit to be gained from dragging it into this discussion, as it is irrelevant and will only generate an unnecessary firestorm.

As for your idea regarding Walmart's methods of business, what specifically about their business model is so horiffic? When one makes a claim, it is expected that there be evidence to support the conclusion. I'm not saying you're wrong, but I am saying you have failed to make your case.

verizon hasnt hired in years. quite the contrary. laid off hundreds here in new england in the last two years alond.

Ivan got himself a 4% pay increase in the meantime.

les - You have my sympathies on all this, and Verizon has been my LEAST favorite carrier, by far.

But as an aside, people are going to have to realize that 62 is far too young to "retire" , and especially if the house is not paid off. Maybe a medical waiver could be had for those who do very physical work - they could not continue to age 70. Of course, my peers can't get Social Security until age 67 - if it's there then - but until the house is paid for, I'll work.
I keep saying, best build on that granny flat to the ol' homestead, many will need it.

This is a free market system. If Verizon's service stinks people will leave and go to another phone company. This way the good companies end up making it and the bad ones go out of business.

Most good companies treat their employees fairly and nowadays, Unions simply push for whatever they can get to justify the dues the working stiffs are paying them out of every paycheck.

Unions were needed years ago but nowadays they are responsible for more jobs leaving the United States because of their high cost demands.

will remain in business and the looser go out of business. Pretty simple

les your 62 and complaining about what your getting paid in retireement. Most Americans will need to work until 70 to retire after the Fed adjusts SS very soon. So it seems to me you could go work some hours somewhere else if your short on money, lets not put the blame on Verizon for your retirement funds. You were not forced to stay with Verizon for your career, you could have found work and higher wages elsewhere.

people don't understand in most of verizon's land line areas most of the competitors has to use verizons plant to provide telephone and or internet service so the company is still getting money hand over fist!!!!!!

My husband gets crap if his job takes too long to complete. the bosses dont care if someone has to go back in three days to fix something that wasnt done to par. He refuses to do substandard work and stands firm. It's all about their numbers at the end of the day.

45,000 workers on strike. yep. and it will take, what, three months? six months? to train new techs. and then a few years before they have real skills to do on the job problem solving. It's not like McDonalds just hung a help wanted sign up and you all can jump right into the mix.

What nonsense - complaining that the union benefits are substandard because they're not as good as what other get under another union contract is ridiculous. You and your peers voted on the contracts year after year and got what you voted for - look what the union did for the auto industry! That's where the telecom workers are headed unless they realize that some of their requests are unreasonable and they need to learn new technologies.

Les- I can't agree with you more! My husband is almost 61 and can't afford to retire. He is a services technician and likes his job. He goes above and beyond to help customers in any way he can, even going as far as giving out his personal phone #. He is sent out on DSL troubles, having absolutely no training from Verizon whatsovever. We have a landline phone that Verizon knows there is a CO trouble in the area and won't spend the money to fix or upgrade. They are trying to get away from the copper and I think this situation is helping them achieve that goal. They don't care about any of their workers. Yes, they are payed well, but most of the outside workers deserve it. Many of them have college educations and have to work in deplorable conditions. I hear horror stories of having to walk through dog feces in a basement just to run a line. I am personaly not a Union fan and I think some concessions have to be made in negotiations, but from my understanding, Verizon wants it their way or no way. My husband is already filling out applications for employment. He wants to work and has to work. I lost my job due to Foreign Trade and am going back to school. This is what is going to happen to so many jobs in the future and someone has to take a stand. It doesn't mean they are lazy or don't want to work. As far as someone else stepping in and just doing the job, it's not going to be quite that easy. Hopefully Verizon will fall to their knees and appreciate the workers they have.

cassandra - verizon closed my office in '89 after the strike. I had to work in Braintree near Boston. No public transportation so I drove it day after day for 6 yrs. It cost me a fortune to work there & the hrs., which were long to start with, extended in 12-14 hr. days. I had the time in so I took an offer and got out. My house was paid for, my youngest had just graduated from high school. I worked temp jobs for 2 yrs. after which I loved - there's so much out there besides the phone co.!!! Had a bout with cancer, couldn't work during that. Now I'm aching with arthritis - I can thank Verizon for that. Started having trouble with my knees in my early 20s due to carrying 50-60 lb. packs of bills - god forbid they'd spend the money to get me a cart - I asked so many times!! Always the same answer - no money in the budget. Had I known then how I'd be living now, I would have raised hell...

I had an MRI a couple of yrs. ago by the oncologist. No problems except my body is loaded with arthritis. My back, knees, ankles, wrists - too many yrs. of abusing my body to do my job. I can't even walk the dog anymore, to climb the stairs is a chore, I have to lean against the sink to do dishes.

@UAW - Can you live on promises?? $18K a yr. to $12k a yr.??? I'm now collecting my SS but there's no extras. I have no dependents, I don't eat out, no credit cards, car is paid for. I never intended Verizon to be my career but being divorced, 2 kids - one an infant, a mortgage, a house to maintain & several yrs. into the company, I couldn't afford to start over again. Can't work and even if I could, in RI, there are no jobs. I should have worked for the State - the union pays the retirees COLA, holidays (!!!!!!) & their pension is not figured on their base pay - it includes any OT they put in over the yrs. If I knew then what I know now....

verizon makes the money to keep these people happy, i believe their using whats happening to the country as leverage to stick it to the workers. i can see states doing what they want to the men and woman because it's government but not companies that want to kill the middle class

Michael, these striking workers are free to find employment elsewhere, they can also go buy or create their own business and compensate themselves as they see fit. Verizon is a wallstreet company, profits is whats is all about, profits means higher dividends paid and higher dividends means higher stock value. Companies plan not only for now but 5 and 10 years down the road, these Union contracts are for years and not just based off this year or last year profits. These workers will still be middle class if the workers agreed to what Verizon is now offering. This is the new America, we are not ever going to be what we were, sorry but that is just the way it is and everyone must realize that.

We need to fire all these union workers and hire Mexicans for minimum wage this is what we need illegals for so we can get rid of the union workers. and then we can fire everyone else too and import the entire Mexican workforce. How dare people think they have a right to strike or ask for anything only CEO's are allowed to bargain and make billions of dollars everyone else is just a tool.

Michael, you're right on the money.

Michael Moore just wrote a dissertation of this type of deal. It is the Unions that have driven up what we pay, pension plans, etc. There was a middle class before unions and there will be again. Just let those Americans out of work take those jobs while they picket and see how long the Union pays their wages.

Just think about this Thunder Storm. Without unions there to protect the worker someone with seniority who has received pay increases would always be vulnerable to the company replacing them with a younger, cheaper new hire. No one would be with a company long enough to SEE their pension. These companies, like Walmart, would have benefits for employees working 32+ hours per week but only schedule them for 31 hours per week. Some companies are fair, and respect and value their employees. These companies do NOT have unions and do NOT need unions. But not all employers are as good as mine and I fully support those who work for companies who pay their CEOs obscene amounts of money and have no regard for the value of their workforce. A company is ONLY as good as those who do the work and have real contact with the customers.

It is not about Luck