What they're saying: Pro Verizon

First of all, NOT EVERY UNION WORKERS FEELS A COMPANY OWES THEM !!!!!!I I have been a union worker for about 30 years. I have pride and integrity in my work. Unfortunately doing a quality union job is NOT what a company wants these days and this is very sad. A quality job done right the first time goes allot longer . Gives a better impression. Unfortunately it takes longer and company's would rather have a technician run through a job . Also, in the 30 years that I have done a quality job for my company I could count on one hand how many times my superior praised me for it. But that never discouraged me. I never changed . I will always do a quality union job right , the first time because I have pride in myself , pride in my work ethic, and respect for the customer I am working for..... So give us union workers a break!

Why would you stay in a job that it sounds like you really don't enjoy? I would love to have your job because currently, I don't have one and would be thrilled with your paycheck. Is Verizon hiring?

Amen to that dude.

Hey! News flash kids. The managers really DO HATE all you idiots in the union. We think you're lazy, and the quality of your work totally sucks. I'd rather be RIF'd as a manager than spend my life as some union drone like you losers.

looks like you were all wrong. Verizon, as true to form, fell like a house of cards at negotiation table and gave the union slobs everything they asked for (and then some!). That's what happens when the unions are run by the mob.

This is really starting to tick me off...All these good for nothing non-union, anti-union people that think they deserve what union employees have. We are over paid, huh? Alright, next time your power, or telecom goes out in an ice storm, tornado or whatever. See how fast a non-union shop will fix it. Oh let me guess, that's the power company's responsibilty, umm last I checked most power companies are union. First off, most telecom brothers do not make $40 until they are close to their second level journeyman status (if they are lucky, pay is decided by market not national average), which takes years (about 6-7) to achieve. 3 years of on the job training, More electrical theory and knowledge than a college grad with a masters has, and the inept ability to put our lives on the line every godd@mn time we have to climb a pole. But the union is bad....sheesh. Next time you get pulled over, ask the officer what union he belongs to, or you see a house fire, ask the fire fighter what union he belongs to. Hell go to the county clerk, more than likely they are union. You wanna bash unions because we make more money and have a better lifestyle than you do and that is our fault, because why? Oh yeah, we shouldn't be able to do that because you got what an Associates or is a Bachelors, oh I know a Masters and you have settled for a job making 36,000 a year. And you have all this to offer, huh. Would you be willing to die to make sure someone you don't know has phone service, or electricity, or water and sewer?? How can we die installing phone, easy we work on the same damn poles that the high volt guys do, and static electric shocks, well can kill, especially if there's a crappy transformer overhead. Guys have died just throwing a safety belt around a pole, or people not noticing our ladders and hitting them. So you wanna bash the union guys, huh, show us your cojones and maybe we'll take you seriously.

And if our jobs were portable, yeah it would be outsourced, like Chevy, Ford, etc. But the out sourcing hasn't brought down the cost at all, they've gone up. And how would you feel to call in a power outage, and talk to someone with such a bad accent and dialect, you have no idea if they even got it put in right. That's right, half the damn time, the E-line answerers and dispatch people, are union, IBEW actually. So the Unions are a think of the past huh?
Last I checked we are alive and well, and ummm, not going anywhere.

We are not out for ourselves, like you closed minded people think we are. The Unions are from the time of Rockefellar, and if it wasn't for the unions, this country would have been outsourced long ago.

You talk about the UAW, most of them are probably back to work, at the Nissan and Toyota plants, that were once Ford and Chevy.

Don't bash us because we don't wanna bend over for the corporate b@st@rds like you do. And we atleast stand behind our work. Why do you think most union shops offer a guarantee.

And hows this little tidbit. How many of you have an ADT alarm system, that falses out periodically. Now think of the airport with it's fire alarm system. Which one never falses unless made to. The Airport right? Where am I going? ADT-non-union, Airport Union-contractor. Truth of the matter is, most of the time we are more skilled and better trained than a non-union contractor. Not that all non-union guys are bad, some are great techs in all fields. But most don't care, because what we make in a week, they gotta fly through orders to do. And, half the time, it's not done right.

It's not a myth, Union Work is done with Union Pride. And it shows, even 40 and 50 years later, our buildings and our work still stand. The non-union long since leveled. So if you wanna b$tch about the money we make....Shut up and join.....That's what I thought, all talk and no cojones. Screw Verizon, Comcast, Cox, etc. If you don't like service, go anti-union. I mean afterall we're the reason the American economy is bad. Not the Corporate greed that seems to control your lifestyle. How would you feel, making $20 and hour...wait $12.50 after taxes and benefits, while once a guy was making $25....after taxes and stuff...One word for ya...sucker...

IBEW L.U. 134, 146 and 357....And proud....

Remember all of the unions provide the services you rely on to exist and feel safe. Bash a Union, Bash the employees, Bash your lifestyle. We are your power, water, sewer, phone (minus cable subscribers...for now), police, firefighters, municipal agents, etc.

and no one seems to mention that all of the money used to place the wireless CAME FROM THE WIRELINE SIDE as well....

no more than a high school diploma? get real...i have 9 master's degrees thanks to the union bargaining and i ahve completed coursework for my 3rd doctorate (ScD.) You need to come to the 21st century bub...

I spent 30 years in Telecom. It sucked! The VZ Corp. and the unions (CWA, IBEW) are criminal. I’m always surprised anything works. You know that is true. You can’t trust anyone Union or Mgmt. You deserve each other.

I spent 30 years in Telecom. It sucked! The VZ Corp. and the unions (CWA, IBEW) are criminal. I’m always surprised anything works. You know that is true. You can’t trust anyone Union or Mgmt. You deserve each other.

nobody will win if the strike happens ,but that doesnt mean that the union members should take the sh*t from the company.we have given up too much lately with the promise of fios making everything ok-well now they are trying to take our fios jobs away.ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

its funny how people can come on here and say whats good for somebody else. lets just hope that one day you dont go to work and find out your job is moving to pakistan.....you'll wish you were in a union then...

For all those pro Verizon people out there. I find it very hard to believe that you would prefer to speak to a CSR in India than someone who actually speaks English. I know you think so right now but in time you will be whining, I'm sure.

what makes you think that FIOS is even going to suceed it is failing in other markets

i was ther in 1989 for the nynex strike.ivebeen a contractor for 25 years, and i see nothing has chnged in the ne the union still feeds you lines of crap and you still take it,dont get me wrong iknow some of you bust it and take pride in your job but not all.they are the ones that are costing you not verizon cut the slackers loose and see what your company thinks of you.ihope they get a FAIR contract,but at some point they have to be realistic,but make no mistake if they walk ther will be aqualified workforcein place in days.good luck wake up cwa ibew quit being sheep dont belive all the lies your union leadership tells you

Both of my parents (father now deceased) were born in the early 1900s.) My late father was a democrat... my mother a republican... neither would ever THINK of joining or supporting a Union. During these severe economic times I concur with them. I would NEVER join or support a Union that in essence will create more harm then it will good for a far larger number of people.

I do not wish to lose my job... and I will if CWA strikes against Qwest.... but I would rather lose it then see Qwest OR Verizon cowtow to this demands during this critical time in our country

Wow, all of you pro verizon-anti union people are mostly dillusional.

Lets look at a couple points...
1. since 2000 Verizon has cut about half of its employees. So, let me guess... they passed all there savings to you guys, right? How about service? Lets say you have a problem with Verizon's 100 year old copper wiring and lose phone service... How long is your phone out tll it gets dispatched? 3-4 days!! Are you kidding?! Thats absurd!

Now think about the processto even call in a trouble with your service. You get to speak with all sorts of electronic "people" just to be transferred to someone in India who you can barely understand. That saves Verizon money. Does the customer see any savings? NO but the top 5 people in Verizon made 82 million in just salary last year.

Ok now I'd like to say that yea verizon techs do get paid well. In the last 5 years our annual raise has been 1%. Cost of living in the last 5 years has raised how much? How about the cost of homes?!! The union has given up pay raises for better benefits.

I can't speak for every union member but I like my job and I am far from lazy. I bust it everyday for verizon. And anyone can't do this job. Verizon has a test that you must take to even get hired because they realize the job does take skill. I personally have a degree in Nanotechnology, and know that many of the other guys I work with have degrees. We aren't made up of the high school drop outs.

The big problem here is how everyone has accepted and taken the hits on their pensions and healthcare. I understand that the normal joe shmoe has no option except to take what the company offers. Just because most working class people lost that stuff, doesn't mean verizon workers shouldn't have to. This country has taken a huge hit with huge company's like verizon outsourcing and making it harder for middle class people to live, and I think it's sad that everyone on this board is throwing the workers to the wolves.

Guess by your standards, I should be ashamed that I am in a union. I on the other hand think your crazy, b/c if the working class still has a chance everyone should be behind them. Its better for the workers and consumers

My husband has more than a high school diploma and is a workaholic. I understand we have very great benefit and maybe we will pay something now for them. However, 30,000 by 2011 that is bs. Also, my husband makes under $40 hour. He does more than the quota for work completed. Get all your facts correct. Keep jobs with Verizon in America and no sub contracting. CWA Union support the bargain team and fight strong. I still think we could strike anyday here.

quoting - nicely said
Question: Why is it ok for the fat cat ceo of verizon, Ivan, to make 35 million a year with healthcare for life and college education benefits for his children?
Answer: Because like the unions he has a great contract.

As a matter of fact please locate one fortune 500 CEO who does not have a contract....you can't!

i tell you what, the cfo at verizon in her spare time likes to ride her race horses. they want me to give back my health insurance so they can buy more horses i think not!!!!

"The East union in Verizon is a joke. One union worker in the West does the work of 5 of you easterners. Your union is fat and deserves to be cut significantly."
If this is the case, in my garage there will be 2.5 of you to do the I&M, splicing, maintain the electronics, and maintain the air pressure systems. Your 2.5 techs will do this for 6 switching offices over an area that is 55 miles from end to end. Don't forget that the 2.5 of you will have to cover 7:30-7:00, 7 days a week. As a bonus, the .5 tech doesn't have a truck to drive and will be riding with one of the 2 because all the crews out here are down at least 1 truck.

Oh BTW, way to stand behind your fellow union members.

5.5 billion last quater/ceo made 26 million last year...why shouldn`t i be compensated properly?
corporate greed is why this country`s economy is in the shape it is in right now. just because you don`t have the intestinal fortitude to stand up for what you are worth to these these greedy corporate executives making millions off your hard work, you accept what they give you, and like it...me, i will fight for my way of life

im a little irritated at the union right now . how can we not strike? i understand that some people have not saved up for this. but we all knew this day was coming. we are going to go on with the same contract untill an agreement hs been made? that could be forever.

I couldn't have said it any better.

I would like to see management cover the workload. If it's so easy and we sleep through our day. Lets see my 300lb supervisor go in a attic in 100 degree temps. or fit under a plumbing pipe in a crawl space. Your just jealous because you can't be in a union and receive the benefits we have. So I will walk because I knew this day may come and I have a little thing called a savings account that I put my forty dollars an hour into.

My husband is a line man and has worked for Verizon for 10 years. He has two Degrees and is working on his third which Verizon is paying for! Get your facts straight before you post! You make youself look foolish when you don't know what you are taking about!

HAAAAA Like we get quality work from Union members LOL - what a joke! If they are not out on stress leave, or disability, raking in money for free, it some other issue that allows them to abuse verizon/Union benefits. That being said, NOT ALL UNION people are like that - but maybe if those of you who are hardworking, dedicated Union employees could get all of your slackers in line, stopped the slow downs and made you members act with respect and maturity, and stop abusing the system, perhaps the union would not get such a bad rap!

$40 an hour?! Before bennies? Who the hell makes that? I want their job!

No, we're not lazy, just sick and tired of management with your attitude. Take a look in the mirror.

Some of the "pro Verizon" comments are very demeaning. It takes a lot more than a "high school diploma" to be an effective technician. I am an ex-military/military contractor with experience in test equipment, weapon system and avionics (A-10, RC-135, TR-1, F-16, F-15, F-5, A-7 + transient US NAVY and NATO), computers, satellite systems, cryptography, integration systems, RADAR, secure and nuclear hardened communication systems and worked primarily in unseen, mostly unheard of positions directly affecting the lives of those I supported, including the whole United States while working in support of NORAD, NASA, and other government agencies. As a technician for Verizon, I test and direct maintenance for circuits ranging from ancient, out of production "one of a kind" to state of the art systems. I use multiple databases and monitoring/testing systems during the day, use a wide variety of office applications to make sense of individual circumstances and communicate to internal and external customers, including those who are disoriented, elderly, angry, foreign born with little English or heavy accents to high-end professional communication consultants, various vendors and thier multiple levels of tech support. The associates who work at Verizon are dedicated, hard working, customer oriented and literally put blood, sweat, and tears into the performance of their jobs. Who could restore communications to NYC after 9/11 in a week? UNION MEMBERS are where the "rubber meets the road" in Verizon, and we're not about numbers like the management, but taking care of our customers. Anybody who walks into Verizon thinking they can just start and do productive work is completely out of touch with the complexity of telecommunications and the regulations that govern this business.

Ok. i need to recomment on something i posted earlier....i dont' think that ALL contract workers are dropping the ball. but when i go over tickets and see stuff misdirected to different departments stuff sent to a video bucket for a data problem....its almost always contract workers doing it. im not downing the workers themselves, im downing verizon for not making sure that they are trained properly. We have to pass an extensive data knowledge test to be able to work for verizon.....we know what we are doing we WANT to help the customers fix whats broken and most of us truly do CARE when service is out....but with verizon management breathing down your neck...."why did you dispatch" " why are you on that call more than 12 minutes" "get off that call" the caring goes out the window.....as far as the strike goes...i will be out there backing my union 100% if it were not for them..i would not have what i have now. i would be getting paid crap , from what i hear thats basically what contract workers make...thats not fair

1.5 billion in profits in 1 quarter. ceo's getting millions in bonuses. The strike if it happens is not about money, pensions, or healthcare. It's about getting a fairshare of corporate greed. If we say nothing the company may as well be called veriENRON.

I'm a verizon contractor. I've worked for them for over three years. I'd like to be hired - but it's cheaper for the company to keep me as a contractor - that's just the reality of the situation. I was a Bell Atlantic employee back in 98 when the union went on strike and I gladly kept coming to work and did my job. Fortunately for me, I live in a right-to-work state.

HA! if you really think you will get the same quality work from a non union person then you are full of it. and verizon WILL go downhill...non union people (or contract workers as we call them) are a pima. our work increases as union workers because they are not paid as well so they don't work as hard and they are not trained as well... its almost like calling india for your tech support. its horrible, constantly everyday i am yelled at by a customer for something a contract worker dropped the ball on...go ahead and have only contract workers...verizon will definitly go down the drain.

Whoa!! This shows how non educated some of you can be about a situation....i work for verizon. i do not ...NOWHERE NEAR make 40 dollars an hour. yes i have great benefits but thank god!! and the union!! verizon is not willing to give us this, if they take away our benifits and we have to pay....thats a paycut, and i seriously doubt any of you would enjoy having a paycut. Be real folks...on top of that, i was suspended for 2 weeks with no pay because my child was sick and could not make it to work. I have documents from the daycare and the doctor...now you tell me that we don't have a reason to fight. You tell me thats ok to tell a worker "No you can't leave and take care of your children when they are ill, or you will be fired" And people who are retired and worked their entire lives for verizon deserve some benifits......WOW you really are SOME COLD HEARTED PEOPLE.....and fyi...i don't have a high school diploma..but i do have a b.s. in information systems.

WE ARE FIGHTING TO KEEP OUR JOBS NOW AND THE FUTURE. WE ARE FIGHTING FOR FORMER UNION MEMBERS, WHO ARE YOUR MOTHERS AND YOUR FATHERS. WE ARE FIGHTING FOR WHAT ALL AMERICANS SHOULD BE FIGHTING FOR. WE WILL STRIKE, AND WE WILL STRIKE HARD!!!! WE ARE PROVEN WE ARE UNION HANG TOUGH!!!!

The East union in Verizon is a joke. One union worker in the West does the work of 5 of you easterners. Your union is fat and deserves to be cut significantly.

The funny part of all this is that the union says "We will not pay for benefits" and their members by into that drivel. The truth is they have been paying for benefits all along. It is simple math to figure out the following: If the company can afford to offer the Union 7% in total compensation increases year over year, and the cot of the benefits they refuse to pay for eat up 5% of that increase, then they are left with only 2% to offer in terms of salary increases. So when they say they aren't paying, I just lol at them. Now if they agree to pay for a piece of the benefits, lets say enough that the cost of bene's only eats up about 3% of the proposed increase, suddenly they are getting 4% wage increases. But this is a bit too complicated for your average lemming union member to realize. They will just buy into the union fed propaganda and hand over their dues to a greedy corporation who only cares about how much money they bring in.......it's called the CWA.

For all the managers who will be working through the strike, have fun doing all the things you think we are overpaid for.Going in attics when it is 90 degrees out. Ticks, mosqitoes, cockroaches, fleas, installing fios to customers who don't speak a word of english. NO air conditioning in the trucks, 8' tall bushes in your way, no proper tools, the list goes on. The best will be when you are stuck at some house with a customer breathing down your neck asking you why it's taking so long, while you have about 50 union brothers and sisters screaming scab outside!

Actually they make between $12 - $20 per day and get FREE healthcare, picked up and driven to work, driven home from work and fed twice daily FOR FREE. They work 10 hour shifts 4 days a week and also overtime when available. Rarely off, unless it is a festival or a wedding or a funeral and they work their hiney's off. And you wonder why Verizon out sources

Sounds like the people posting here are just bitter ex-union employees who weren't strong enough to fight for what they deserved. I have worked for the company for 17 years and only make $24 an hour so I am not sure where these people are getting the idea that we make $40 an hour. The only time any employee makes that much is if they are working ALOT of Ovetime...so they deserve it. They are spending hour after hour on the job and away from their families (I might add that many times this is Forced Overtime) I am saddened by the comments here. It is like they think we should be ashamed for trying to keep what we have and do good for our families. This is why this country is in the shape it is in. People are too willing to just give up and declare that Unions are Dead. If that is the case it is the fault of the members. CWA is strong and plans to stay that way!!

Maybe some of the people posting comments here should actually work for verizon before making assumptions about what it is that the employees want. I do work at verizon and I am not in love with the way the union works. And no we do not make $40/hr. I wish. Try $12/hr for an operator at top pay after starting at $8/hr. We are verbally abused by angry customers on an almost constant basis. I have no problem paying for healthcare. Its about job security. But hey, if you like talking to India about billing errors, well then you may get what you ask for. If you do not know the real issues then you should not comment.

How many of you have to code your phone at work so your supervisor knows you're in the bathroom? They want to keep track of how many minutes you're there and how many times you go. If you take more than 3 minutes, they are paging you to open your phone. Everyone in the office has to know that you're in the process of having a bowel movement or urinating. Yes, there are people that over do it, but I don't, and when I do go, I have to hear it.

If you have copper and you have trouble with your line, good luck!!! They don't care about the copper customers, only FIOS. We will tell you to check your equipment and Network Interface Box (even though many customers don't have one) a million times until you get a representative who doesn't care about their end of month numbers and will end up issuing the ticket. Copper lines are neglected and not maintained so there are not enough techs to handle all the tickets as it is. I don't blame you if you tell us you want to switch companies. But believe me when I tell you that I am doing the best I can with all the rules and restrictions (and threats)there are.
We can't be on the phone with each customer for more than 4 minutes or they're paging us to get off that call. So a lot of times you're transferred to a different department because we need to end the call or we get in trouble. Don't even bother asking to speak to a supervisor because they don't want to deal with it. They have to observe on us and don't have time for you. We have to tell the customer they will get a call back from one knowing full well that it's never going to happen. But that is the way to get the customer off the phone. If you feel like you're being rushed off the phone, please don't be upset with the rep, that is just what we're taught to do and we want to pass our year end appraisal.
Yes, I get paid well and am thankful for the job I have. But let me also mention that there are a lot of people out on stress. The absence rate is high. Management knows why nobody wants to come in. It's very stressful that we can't help the customer the way it should be done and then they are calling us names and yelling at us while supervisors are telling us to get off the call.

Our department also has to sell products and Verizon makes millions because of reps like us. I don't even work in the sales and service office and I have to sell.

We are skilled technicians who are the backbone of the Verizon Corporation. Especially those of us involved in FIOS. We are the only direct interface with the customer and we spend much of our day providing top notch, quality work, the rest of the day we spend trying to fix the problems that sometimes cause our customers so much frustration- usually due to some management decision or process. - we deserve good health benefits AND good wages. Have you ever seen some of the non-union jibronees that work for some of the cable and satellite companies? they can be downright scary. We will get a fair contract.And we will continue to provide the best.

I like the post that reads. "I got to pay for this and that so union employees should too." That my friend is called jealousy, and is a perfect example of it. You sir, or madam are a child that is like saying "if I can't have it then no one can." then popping the balloon. Here is an idea, try getting a better job rather then coming on here and ripping people who A) have know idea how hard they work. And B) have no concept of what UNION really means. As for the last comment. Verizon has invested in FIOS that's it, over the past 10 years they have cut construction cost on all wire line equipment. Most of their reinvestment has gone to cover their losses due to poor judgment on overseas investments. Do some research before you spout off on a company you have no understand of.

Union Member in VA said.." I report to work and argue with approximately 500 VZ customers daily" Really 500 a day, a normally rep talks to 40-50 customers a day.
Union Member in VA said."Some days I get off work at 11 or 12 at night.." Really, I know all of our cssc centers stop taking calls between 6-7 pm?
If you are in the 411 area then those last two statements might be correct, but ur not talking to the customer ur giving the information and then getting off the call.
Verizon is a large company and makes a lot of money, but last time I checked they invest a lot of the money back into the company in order to keep growing so we can remain somewhat profitable.

I agree it is time for Verizon to make a stand. I am tired of paying more each year for insurance, no pension and increased hours... it is time for the Union to start paying their far share!!

Hey did anybody know that on top of Ivan's $76 million paycheck he also gets free healthcare for life! Interesting huh!

I see all these negative comments directed at the workers, what about Verizon and their greed. This company is not in finacial dire. They just announced their quartterly report and they've shown a 12% increase but yet they don't want to give their employees a cost of living raise or continue to pay for their benefits. I actually work for Verizon and I love my job but to address a previous comment, I don't know of anybody that's union making $40/hr plus benefits. I don't want to go on strike but I will to protect my quality of life. When I was hired both sides agreed to certain conditions. I would do a quality job and show up for work, they agreed to pay me a nice hourly wage and pay my benefits. If the company was in need I would certainly have no problem paying for my healthcare but how do they justify asking us to pay for our benefits when they give out million dollar bonuses to the executives? Let them give up their bonuses then we'll talk. Last report has it Ivan Seidenberg made 76 million last year. Yes he's a great CEO but 76 million! Nobody is worth that!

Before anyone attacks the Union or Verizon I think they need to look into what Verizon is offering as service, and then what they are charging. They have cut their budgets, and cut their payroll over the past few years. All while they raised the cost to me the consumer. I feel that Verizon uses their union employees as scapegoats. Do you really think that if Verizon hired a bunch of people for $8 an hours, our service would get better? Or that you would see a cut in the cost to the consumer? They gave $42 MILLION to their CEO who has cause the price of the stock to drop in half over the past 6 years. Is that the union members fault? Are they asking for a $42 MILLION dollar raise? I believe they are just like everyone else trying to survive in this world, and just because I do not have the option to strike for my rights I can not hold it against the union employees. I think the people on here who are downing the union employees are just jealous of the union and their strengths to get fair pay and healthcare. Everyone should have free healthcare and good for them to fight for their families. I wish that both sides would stop attacking each other, because it just puts both sides in a bad light alienating them both from the public.

Another thing with VZ Wireless, sure they make lots of money but the connections to the cell towers are installed and maintained by the wireline side of the company. Nobody ever seems to mention that.