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join:2008-07-10
New Bedford, MA | If they go on strike Verizon will be screwed big time!!!! They just got that big contract in NY too oh boy they better give the good old boys what they want.  | |
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Cabal
Premium
join:2007-01-21
Boston, MA
1 edit | Re: If they go on strike I'm going to laugh pretty hard when Verizon becomes the GM of the telco world in a year or two. Go union!  | |
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NOCMan
Verizon Fios User
Premium
join:2004-09-30
Flower Mound, TX | Re: If they go on strike I'm looking forward to improved service with the lazy union folks out of the picture for a bit. Hope they get screwed, and maybe that will teach them to leave me on hold for 15 minutes while they took their break. | |
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Telcoguru
Premium
join:2005-08-22
Fresh Meadows, NY | Re: If they go on strike Maybe they left you on hold because you have been nothing but an a$$. Spoken like a true Enron executive. Karma comes back to bite you just remember that! | |
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| | | Dolgan
Premium
join:2005-10-01
Sun Prairie, WI
 ·Verizon Online DSL
1 edit | VZ East is bargining now, so you will have to wait untill 2010 when Central Region's contract is up. Figured someone with the tag Nocman would know that Verizon is broken into several bargining units and that your calls are handled by group with about 16 months left on their contract. Sorry you had a poor experience, and the rep should have updated you on what they were doing every few minutes. Sometimes it takes 15 minutes to get other departments on the line to help resolve issues. *shrugs* They could always just outsource the FSC and you could then get the pleasure of speaking to Habib in Bangalore like the poor DSL customers. Then again, that would just give you something else to complain about now, wouldn't it. | |
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union 1
@verizon.net | asshole management made the decision to replace people on the line to help you, with a machine that could care less how long you wait. | |
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| | | NE Fios Tech
join:2008-07-21
Warwick, RI
| If the management would let us take our breaks after we get off the line that would be fine, BUT the managers say if you are on a call when it is your break time and you run over it, you loose it. Blame the management, not the union workers. That is one of the issues. | |
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wake up
@verizon.com | The union is just as screwed as everyone else in that company if Vz becomes the GM of telco. Where's your head at? | |
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| jc100
join:2002-04-10
1 edit | Let me be honest. I am heavily PRO union, BUT i also think they can get greedy. GM is a prime example. Workers that punch out parks are making 40 or more dollars an hour via redundant factory labor. Unions have bargained for such lucrative deals, that companies cannot afford to keep pace, in many cases. While this is not the general rule, it is common enough. With that said, workers NEED unions so they can't just be fired or gotten rid of on a whim. However, these unions need to understand that company profit and employee payroll need to strike a fine balance. One cannot paralyze a company to overvalue their self worth. A strike should be called only if conditions and means warrant it. IE, if said company is super profitable but they decide to downsize heavily or start outsourcing. To me, that's cause. Likewise, if work conditions are unsafe, there's another reason. Last, if workers cannot make a decent living wage at a job that requires skill, then workers should walk the picket. On the other hand, if workers are paid and treated well, and just want MORE for MORE's sake, then that's a bad reason to take a stance. | |
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| | ITALIAN926
join:2003-08-16
Stratford, CT
1 edit | Re: If they go on strike The workers dont want MORE MORE MORE... The company wants givebacks. No GIVEBACKS EVER. Once you start paying for medical ( as an example ) Youll be screwed down the line with future contracts. Eventually youll be paying 100% for your medical and in its place you would have gotten miniscule raises ! Former union employees worked hard for what is received today, letting the company take back benefits would be a sin.
No sympathy for a company that takes in billions upon billions a year... and whos executives are filthy rich. When Verizon has a negative cash flow... and Ivan Seidenberg completely cuts his pay then I'll rethink my stance on this. | |
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| | | jc100
join:2002-04-10
| Re: If they go on strike Italian,
You miss the point here. If the company is extremely profitable, then they should not be screwing over their employees. I said I agreed on that. However, one must ACTUALLY look at profits versus hard numbers. If a company takes in 8 billion revenue in a given year, HOW MUCH of that is ACTUAL PROFIT. One can't say, O verizon made 8 billion, damn them to hell (just a random number). One must factor in such things as operating costs, money for expansions, etc etc. The remainder is then technically profit. If a company is still doing VERY well after that, you are damn right I believe they should let their workers be. Those workers are doing their jobs properly, and should not be shafted so the company can make a few more dollars. What really pisses me off, is when these companies give 100s of millions to their CEOS who run them to the ground. Only in the corporate world is BAD MANAGEMENT rewarded with 100s of million in severance pay. This of course, comes at the expense of 1000s of employee layoffs down the road. This type of crap needs to stop. I am not saying companies are perfect, in the least. However, you must factor in a few things before getting all uptight. For instance, A company who has big numbers, but is marginally profitable, shouldn't be forced to pay MORE. It's a two way street. GM is in this boat. They are not SUPER profitable, yet the unions keep driving them further and further into debt. One day, they will collapse if this continues. It's a fine balance of Profit versus Worker Rights. Both entities need to understand that. | |
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denwes11
@aol.com | Re: If they go on strike it was 8 billion in "profit" thats is after everything is paid for | |
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union1
@verizon.net | italian926 AMEN!!! somebody here gets it | |
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denwes11
@aol.com
| Verizon had 8 billion and counting in "profits" last year, they are in no way hurting, Ivan Sidenburg, CEO of Verizon makes more in 1 day and 4 hrs then the average employee makes in a year, with bennifits, I have no sympathy for Verizon, but I do for the workers | |
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join:2002-04-10 | Re: If they go on strike 8 billion was a theoretical NUMBER and not an actual researched one. I was giving an example! | |
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union1
@verizon.net | 5.5 billion in profits ceo got a bonus of 25,000,000 | |
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ninjatutle
Premium
join:2006-01-02
San Ramon, CA | Too bad the peeping tom won't be able to join them on the line. | |
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meh37
@verizon.net | Re: Too bad Tommy Boy was:
1) Not a union guy
2) Not a tech
3) Not a Verizon employee
(but, actually, he probably could join them on the line, along with any homeless people who feel like holding a sign... presuming there'll be a strike at all) | |
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NOZIREV
join:2008-07-10
New Bedford, MA | Re: sub par performance good point | |
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Corydon
Cultivant son jardin
Premium
join:2008-02-18
Denver, CO
clubs:
 ·Comcast
| Are we sure NYC will be affected? The former Bell Atlantic didn't cover New York...rather they had the Mid Atlantic states like Maryland and Delaware.
NYC was covered by NYNEX, weren't they?
Or am I missing something?
That's not to say this isn't big...it could be a huge boost to cable in places like Baltimore and DC where FiOS has been competitive.
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"Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so too." | |
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SteveCon
IBEW 2222 Boston, MA
Premium
join:2004-09-02
Burlington, MA
| Re: Are we sure NYC will be affected? NY was NY Telephone. New England was New England Telephone. The two combined to make up Nynex. At one point, Nynex merged with and became Bell Atlantic. The merger of GTE & Bell Atlantic created Verizon.
So, yes - this will affect The NYC area and a great deal beyond. | |
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bobgwen
join:2001-07-07
Bartow, FL | Re: Are we sure NYC will be affected? If that is the case then I guess it will affect verizon in Florida? Anywhere Verizon is?
--
brought to you by Carl's Jr.
Esteban Colberto for President of Cuba | |
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SteveCon
IBEW 2222 Boston, MA
Premium
join:2004-09-02
Burlington, MA | Re: Are we sure NYC will be affected? No - not the entire footprint of Verizon. Only Mid-Atlantic north to and including New England (none of the former Vz areas operated by FairPoint are affected). | |
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| EPS
join:2008-02-13
Hingham, MA | NY/MA/RI was NYNEX and NJ/DE/PA/MD/DC/VA/WV are Bell Atlantic, yes, but I believe the union structure is inherited from "the old" AT&T and the Bell System, so both are united in the current structure, while ex-GTE are in their own structure. | |
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uid1307457
Premium
join:2005-12-30
Tempe, AZ | please include a post subject sucks for verizon | |
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Lee GWB
Yaco
Premium
join:2001-10-13
Allendale, NJ | Standard negotiations ploy Hi,
The economy is in the toilet. This should not be a long strike.
Lee | |
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kleinml
join:2008-04-18
Levittown, PA
 ·Verizon FIOS
| They are ready No one wants one but both sides are ready. And to be honest it doesn't really hurt the company. The strike in the 90's that lasted like 16 weeks was damaging to growth. But not to Profits. The savings incurred during that time were enough to completely make the profit margins for the next 4 quarters straight. So what gets hurt really is new connections to FIOS or POTS. Which yes is different this time then that other time. FIOS didn't exist. So no one knows for sure how it will work out. I hope It ends quick though with a both sides able to come to an amicable agreement. | |
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SteveCon
IBEW 2222 Boston, MA
Premium
join:2004-09-02
Burlington, MA
| Nobody wants a strike - believe me. But at the same time, we have even more resolve to do whatever it takes to get a fair contract. Over 90% cast votes to authorize a strike if needed.
With any luck, nobody will have to leave work locations in the middle of the night on Saturday, and those scheduled will be reporting for regular shifts beginning Sunday.
We'll all know in about 30 hours from now. | |
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mrbig
@rr.com | Are operators going on strike also? | |
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SteveCon
IBEW 2222 Boston, MA
Premium
join:2004-09-02
Burlington, MA
| Re: They are ready All "bargained for" employees will strike if the the negotiators call for this action.
Bargained for employees include (but are not limited to) repair & installation technicians, operators, customer service representatives, maintenance mechanics, and others that are members of the IBEW and CWA. | |
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bugabuga
join:2004-06-10
Austin, TX | 3rd party contractors I wonder if Verizon has a small army of third party contractors, ready to pick up where picketing employees left off. Save some money in the process | |
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Scoot_NJ
join:2007-09-25
Budd Lake, NJ | I hope Verizon has some replacements....... Given the economy....these people are lucky they have jobs! | |
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cdru
Go Colts
Premium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
| Re: strike said by LightSpeedNJ :
Dont tell me "we" dont deserve a FAIR contract... I don't think anyone will say that you don't deserve a fair contract. So your job environment sucks. Get over it. I've had jobs that have sucked too. You chose your profession. There are a thousand other jobs that are worse then yours. | |
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Acc708
join:2008-06-28
| Re: strike said by cdru  :said by LightSpeedNJ :
Dont tell me "we" dont deserve a FAIR contract... I don't think anyone will say that you don't deserve a fair contract. So your job environment sucks. Get over it. I've had jobs that have sucked too. You chose your profession. There are a thousand other jobs that are worse then yours. People with this mindset are the reason this country is screwed up. How can you justify allowing corporate execs that neither made the company or invented the product to continue to make over 300% more than any front line worker? Don't you get it that every time you bash the union they think you support them? Every time you bash union, you are saying go ahead and continue to take away customer service, quality, and integrity from the consumer.
Stand up to these sob's and get your piece of the pie like every American should be getting. There is too much money in this country for such a small percentage to have. If you are willing to learn your trade and care about the customer, you deserve to share in the reward. | |
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Alex Foley
@metrocast.net
| Re: strike IMO you should earn your pie. The union here really comes off as a bunch of jealous people wishing they had better jobs IMO. If you quit tomorrow could your company hire someone within 2 weeks? Could they train a person to do the job in a relatively short period of time? If so, you're probably just not worth that much. CEO's compete for jobs too. They weren't born CEOs. (perhaps they were born into a good situation in life which gave them some advantages but you could say the same of a tech compared to someone making shoes in a Chinese factory for 20 cents an hour) I'm sure they make less money than they want too. That's how it is for everyone, everywhere, at all levels. (from tech to CEO)
Someone in this thread said we should be thanking the union for a 40 hour work week. Why? I almost never work only 40 hours a week by my own choice. Weekends at least a twice a month and usually more. Why? Because I want to make money and I want to get ahead. That's my own personal motivation... I choose that path over threatening to quit working for a raise. I don't really feel like my company owes me anything more. I choose to work there. I choose to work extra hours or do things outside of my job description if it helps the company/customers.
The only area I think a union is a benefit is on safety issues in specific industries but the looming threat of litigation over safety issues is a huge benefit there also. It's not in any companies best interest to take safety concerns lightly these days. Perhaps 50 years ago sure... but it's a different world now. | |
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Acc708
join:2008-06-28
| Re: strike said by Alex Foley :
IMO you should earn your pie. The union here really comes off as a bunch of jealous people wishing they had better jobs IMO. If you quit tomorrow could your company hire someone within 2 weeks? Could they train a person to do the job in a relatively short period of time? If so, you're probably just not worth that much. CEO's compete for jobs too. They weren't born CEOs. (perhaps they were born into a good situation in life which gave them some advantages but you could say the same of a tech compared to someone making shoes in a Chinese factory for 20 cents an hour) I'm sure they make less money than they want too. That's how it is for everyone, everywhere, at all levels. (from tech to CEO)
Someone in this thread said we should be thanking the union for a 40 hour work week. Why? I almost never work only 40 hours a week by my own choice. Weekends at least a twice a month and usually more. Why? Because I want to make money and I want to get ahead. That's my own personal motivation... I choose that path over threatening to quit working for a raise. I don't really feel like my company owes me anything more. I choose to work there. I choose to work extra hours or do things outside of my job description if it helps the company/customers.
The only area I think a union is a benefit is on safety issues in specific industries but the looming threat of litigation over safety issues is a huge benefit there also. It's not in any companies best interest to take safety concerns lightly these days. Perhaps 50 years ago sure... but it's a different world now.
You have a right to your opinion, and being respectful is certainly appreciated.
Ask any one of my customers, and any of them that have talked about it know I very much enjoy my job and appreciate what I have. Those same customers agree that no one deserves what these execs make.
If you choose to work all sorts of hours, that is your choice. It is also the reason today's children are being raised on video games, boob tubes, and internet. You have to find a balance for family, work, and yourself, hence the need for a union. For example, our local agreement doesn't permit them to force us anymore than 8 hrs o.t. except for an emergency per week. Imagine how many hours you would work without a union in a service industry like Verizon.
I chose my career field. I don't regret my choice at all. My field has changed, and I roll with the change. I also know that life needs to be balanced between work and home. | |
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FiOStech
Premium
join:2004-09-09
Kennett Square, PA
·Verizon FIOS
| From The IBEW home page. "We are fighting not just for union members, but for working families everywhere," said Calvey. "We are fighting for the kind of jobs that are rapidly disappearing in America. The jobs that pay living wages and good benefits. Jobs that allow our families to keep up. Jobs that pay taxes to support quality public education and important services. Jobs that make America work."
Couldn't say it better myself.
--
Verizon Services Technician
MCSA
MCSE
Ham Radio - KB3HIZ | |
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| rob316
join:2005-10-17
Carteret, NJ
·Comcast
·Verizon Online DSL
1 edit | Re: From The IBEW home page. I wish they would bring the Customer Tech Support back to America with American workers. As an IT person I can speak for all IT workers who's job has been shipped to India or elsewhere. Just today I had to call Verizon because they screwed up my mother in laws DSL order they put the wrong phone number for the DSL install. Well I was transferred to Indian tech support who then transferred me to Sales Support but they transferred me back to tech support. Listen I am not a racist in anyway but giving tech support duties to other countries that do not know the American way of doing things is crazy. I ended up calling my local business office which were AMERICAN and they corrected the problem in 10 minutes. | |
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thearendts
Premium
join:2007-01-01
Woodstock, GA
| said by FiOStech :"We are fighting not just for union members, but for working families everywhere," said Calvey. "We are fighting for the kind of jobs that are rapidly disappearing in America. The jobs that pay living wages and good benefits. Jobs that allow our families to keep up. Jobs that pay taxes to support quality public education and important services. Jobs that make America work." Couldn't say it better myself. Well, it would seem to me, if the past is any example, that like the UAW they fought to make sure that jobs WOULD move oversees by not giving an inch.
The only thing that you guys have going for you is that there wouldn't be a way to outsource your positions (at least the field techs). But, I guess if they can outsource everyone but the field techs, they probably will.
How much do the Union heads make? Just curious. | |
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LastSurvivor
join:2008-01-02
Toledo, OH | Gee.... Does this mean my Verizon bill will be going up soon? | |
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| dhudson1984
join:2008-01-04
Charleston, WV | Re: Gee.... this includes verizon west virginia too. they've been talking about it on the local news... | |
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cdru
Go Colts
Premium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN | Is that a rhetorical question? Has your Verizon bill ever gone down? | |
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viperlmw
Premium
join:2005-01-25 | In Solidarity... GO CWA/IBEW! Qwest is next! | |
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| iotastorm
join:2006-01-24
Florissant, MO | Re: In Solidarity... GO CWA/IBEW! and AT&T Next June.. | |
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FiOStech
Premium
join:2004-09-09
Kennett Square, PA | Solidarity 
CWA LOCAL 13000 | |
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Dolgan
Premium
join:2005-10-01
Sun Prairie, WI
·Verizon Online DSL
| Verizon Executive compensation 2007 Executive Compensation*2007
Ivan Seidenberg
Chairman & CEO
$26,553,576
Additional VZ contributions to retirement & savings plans $14,392,450
Additional income from serving on other corporate boards
$471,467
Dennis Strigl
President & Chief Operating Officer
$18,406,140
Additional VZ contributions to retirement & savings plans
$ 1,335,113
Additional income from serving on other corporate boards
$ 325,576
William Barr
Exec. Vice President & General Counsel
$9,690,617
Additional VZ contributions to retirement & savings plans
$14,715,727
Doreen Toben
Exec. Vice President & CFO
$9,465,325
Additional VZ contributions to retirement & savings plans
$ 5,346,395
Additional income from serving on other corporate boards
$114,453
Lowell McAdam
Exec. Vice President & CEO of Verizon Wireless
$18,089,163
Additional VZ contributions to retirement & savings plans
$5,034,527
What If Verizon Execs Were Laid Off?
If top Verizon executives were laid off tomorrow, here's what they would take home:
Ivan Seidenberg $38.4 million
Dennis Strigl $42.5 million
William Barr $23.1 million
Doreen Toben $15.2 million
Lowell McAdam $14.2 million
Source: Verizon's March 2008, proxy statement.
These are the salaries/compensation[they recieve free lifetime health benefits also] of the people who have the audacity to ask the unions to giveback on what we are making, and what benefits we are recieving. | |
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| Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
Premium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ
| Re: Verizon Executive compensation 2007 so stupid that when execs leave/get laid off they get big fat checks and when a person who works for a living gets laid off they get a final check and maybe some help finding a new job.
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[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports | |
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Cableguy775
@comcast.net
| Good for the employees of the communication industry I work for Comcast and this is a good sign in getting all communication workers the pay they deserve. With out us, Verizon, AT&T, Time Warner and so on, the communications of this country would shut down. Its time the CEO's take a pay cut, stop getting Multi-Million dollar bonuses and give it to the front line techs that make the company. As I always say an unhappy tech makes and unhappy customer which turns into a lost customer. | |
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Acc708
join:2008-06-28 | Re: Good for the employees of the communication industry I've been in your shoes my friend. I know how hard it is for you guys. The biggest problem you face is the young guys in the company believe the bullshit management tells them about unions. | |
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mystryfiostk
join:2008-07-17
00000 | hey cable guy,
you can make a difference. go here: »www.comcastwatch.com
as far as my East Coast brothers go, be strong. We stand behind you! | |
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yolarry
join:2007-12-29
Creston, WV | blah why not finish DSL all over the united states before going to FIOS? So the guys that stuck with Hughes and Dial up would get a chance.
unfair to me. | |
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jdrtech
join:2004-08-01
Staten Island, NY | Re: blah Verizon call me today to cancel my install for aug 2nd for FiOS TV, im freakin pissed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | |
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FiOStech
Premium
join:2004-09-09
Kennett Square, PA | Re: blah And it has begun. | |
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jjam
@verizon.net
| The union workforce are some of the few workers left that are hanging on to their healthcare. We hear all the time how everyone else pays for their healthcare so we should. Once we give in there is no turning back. It will just keep increasing. Then we will hear, well everyone is paying $10 a week so you should. Then $20, $60, and it will not stop. Maybe instead of giving away free healthcare to stiffs not working, the government should address our healthcare problem for all of us. We are just trying to hang on to what we have, IS THAT SO WRONG!!! | |
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OSUGoose
join:2007-12-27
Columbus, OH
clubs: | See: Exec Compensation, for your answer, while im all for the company being public to help rase capital, there comes a time when being private is alot better, for example able to fully wire dsl to 100% footprint. | |
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Cyber2lz
join:2001-11-15
Odessa, FL | Field Techs are great. It's those id10t's in the puzzle palace that are nuckin futs! Fix the billing system already !!!! | |
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fios mgr
@rr.com
| go ahead strike Go ahead strike, I hope you do. I'll be getting the OT I deserve, make it last as long as you can. I've been IBEW for 8yrs, went into mgmt and never looked back. Good move for me, maybe not for you but the comp will survive. Techs make between 60-90K a yr with OT (hell 2 techs in my old yard made 105+ last year), just be careful with the economy the way it is you don't get replaced by contractors like other areas. You have it good, is $140 a month too much to ask for family medical? Exactly how much sympathy do you think you'll get when people find out how much you get paid and how good your benefits are? The union has paid the worker a true living wage, this is a skill, be careful. | |
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