said by devnuller :

Management: Except where it cost more to deploy (rural, underground, etc) or the neighborhood demographics are not attractive.

disregard of the negotiated provisions of our collectively bargained agreement intended to ensure safe and secure working conditions

said by OverModded :

And what exactly are those? The union gives no details and there haven't been any reports of safety problems in the news.

Is this just a lead-in to the unions tactics for the next union contract?

said by bobjohnson :

I think they are only referring to the secure part... I notice around here that they are contracting alot of fios work out...

said by FFJOHNL312 :

From here in New England:

-VZ construction tech was electrocuted to death in March, 2007 in Providence, RI. Investigation was settled between OSHA and VZ, details were not provided, but pasrt of the settlement was that we ALL had to be re-educated in electrical and ladder safety. The worker's family is seeking civil damages against VZ and other parties

-VZ worker was elctrocuted in Plymouth, MA late last year. Investigation is ongoing.

The fact is, that local management is being pressured by upper management to get it done faster and cheaper, sometimes at the cost of safety. But ,yes, this is also a posturing maneuver.

said by JSRoman :

Someone tell these IBEW idiots if there are less profits then there will be less job security for their members which in turn means less union dues.

said by S_engineer :

I see...so make sure Verizons profits go through the roof and it will filter to the employee....with that way of thinking now I see why people aspire to work at Walmart. All of those high paying wages and excellant benefits....you've hit it right on the head Einstein!
Your moronic thinking has gotten the US to the point where a majority of your goods are now made in (Insert low cost country here). You know...in order to maximize profits.
By the way, if you're in the IBEW you're certainly not stupid....this

said by HenryFarpolo :

The contract between the IBEW and Verizon expires in many locations in August as does the contract with the CWA. The closer they get to expiration the more "concerned", the union becomes about safety and customer service.

This is simple posturing. All part of the bargaining process!!

said by KA3SGM :

Since they are pushing install/repair quotas that can't be met on their techs and essentially have a GPS tracker tied to their Van, Laptop, and probably soon to be their Head, I can understand a Union complaint about Verizon now attempting to make their Techs into door to door salespeople.

It would be a good time for CWA to mobilize the troops now, because Verizon no doubt will be looking at further cutbacks of Employee Benefits and Outsourcing of FiOS Installs and Maintenance.

Verizon CEO Ivan Sidenberg would be best to watch out for those 'Red Shirt' employees that keep him in business, and provide for his lofty salary.

I hate to see anyone have to go on strike, but I would expect that Verizon will be asking for all kinds of loopholes, concessions, and cutbacks in the next contract negotiation, and the Union would be best to accept NONE OF IT.

Unfortunately, that probably means a Strike is going to happen, but if so, it would certainly be warranted.

CWA/IBEW really needs to put Verizon's feet to the fire, and to give back an inch in contract negotiations actually gives back more than a mile.

Verizon can't wait for the day that they can sub-out Fios, and completely pull the plug on their copper network.

As to Verizon neglecting their copper network customers, my elderly Mother has had constant troubles with her copper phone line that made it at times unusable.

Verizon's answer after more than 2 years of trouble calls was to try and force FiOS on her.

They also wanted her to accept 5/2 Internet, AND sign a 1 year contract along with it.

She doesn't even own a Computer, yet they wouldn't fix her phone unless she signed up for 1 year of Internet service.

If she refused, they stated that they were unable to repair her phone line due to the high cost of the repair that would require replacing a long length of buried copper cable.

The problem was clearly stated to be outside of her house, and she even was paying for inside wiring maintenance, but they could/would not fix it.

The local techs seemed to know where the repairs needed to be made, but managements resolve was to sell her FiOS.

Instead, She dropped Verizon's service completely, and ported the line to T-Mobile(T-Mobile practically has a tower in her back yard, so no worries), and Verizon has been mailing notices to her every week since to try to get her to come back(to Fios and still a 1 Year Contract).

If there is any suggestion by the Union of Verizon neglecting their Copper Telephone and DSL networks, I can't provide a better example than that one.