VIDEO: Verizon Strikers Say Company Wants to Make Them 'Wal-Mart Workers'
With company response.
Verizon workers have gone on strike across the country this week, and have chosen to air their grievances in front of Reading's Verizon Wireless store.
A spokesman for Verizon Wireless said that the strike does not involve Verizon's cell phone business, and a spokesman for Verizon said that its land line employees are, and will continue to be, some of the best paid workers in the telecommunications industry .
Karl Weld
12:58 pm on Tuesday, August 9, 2011
They're being asked to contribute to their health insurance costs. Boo hoo.
Joann
1:14 pm on Tuesday, August 9, 2011
They are trying to take away about $20,000 per employee. Would you want a $20,000 pay cut? These men and women work hard for their money. Verizon is NOT a company that is losing money! Do some research it is NOT about paying into health care!!
Karl Weld
1:42 pm on Tuesday, August 9, 2011
This article says it better than I ever could.
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/274077/private-sector-employees-also-need-recognize-times-are-changing-carrie-lukas
"Unfortunately, this lesson has yet to be learned by the 45,000 Verizon workers who chose to strike this past weekend. In a move that many companies have made recently, Verizon asked employees to start contributing to their health-care premiums, reduce available sick leave, change the company pension system, and make it easier to fire workers — all changes that would bring them in line with common business practices."
"But it’s not that simple. As with many corporations, most of Verizon’s profits come from one line of business (wireless), while its union workers come from other lines of business (home and business land-lines) that are in decline."
"Unions and workers are understandably reluctant to give up perks they’ve enjoyed for years. Yet the long-term health of the company — and indeed the American economy — rests on remaining competitive. Striking workers should consider how long companies will continue to operate less productive, more costly endeavors. If they succeed in defending their salaries and full benefits, how long will those jobs last?"