Latest from Next TV in Cwa-ibew

Verizon Says Facilities Sabotaged

john.eggerton@futurenet.com (John Eggerton) — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 21:30:00 +0000

Verizon said that thousands of customers have lost service in the past "few days" as "criminals have damaged or destroyed critical network facilities."

The company did not point any fingers, but did point out that the damage coincided with a strike called last week by CWA-IBEW and involving East Coast wireline workers, though it did say the impact of the strike was minimal.

Verizon said there had been at least 24 incidents of sabotage over the past week in five states, including New Jersey, Massachusetts Pennsylvania, New York, all strike-affected states.

“We will find out who’s behind these highly dangerous criminal acts and we will pursue criminal charges,” said Michael Mason, Verizon’s chief security officer, in a statement. Verizon offered a $10,000 reward for arrest and prosecution of the saboteurs. “These perpetrators are putting lives at risk and these dangerous acts need to stop,” said Mason.

Among the damage, according to Verizon, was:

• "Sliced fiber optic cabling at a network facility box in New Jersey that cut services to customers and local emergency personnel, including police and fire departments.

• "Sabotage in Massachusetts in which phone services were cut off for customers for 16 hours.

•" Cut fiber optic and copper cables in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York that disabled voice communications and internet connectivity."

"That sounds very serious. I hope they catch these criminals soon," said a CWA spokesperson asked about Verizon's troubles.

Verizon Makes Its Strike Case in Ad Buys

john.eggerton@futurenet.com (John Eggerton) — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 00:45:00 +0000

Verizon bought full-page ads in six East Coast newspapers, including the A section of the Washington Post, Sunday (April 17) to make its case in the ongoing contract battle with CWA-IBEW-represented wireline workers--including FiOS--who went on strike last week.

A Verizon spokesperson said the ads were bought in Boston. Philly, New York, and New Jersey (Star Ledger).

The two-page ad begins with the message "You Remain our top Priority," telling its customers that while it is facing "the impact" of a strike, they are "there" for their customers. The second page of the ad is headlined "What's there to strike about."

Verizon says it is offering "outstanding" compensation and benefits (an average package worth $130,000 per year), including "high-quality" healthcare, "exceptional" retirement and "numerous" perks.

"We are doing our part, "says Verizon. "Now it's time for union leadership to do the same. They need to strike a deal."

Telco Retirees Association President Backs Verizon Strike Threat

john.eggerton@futurenet.com (John Eggerton) — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 17:45:00 +0000

The head of the Association of BellTell Retirees said Tuesday (April 12) supports the strike threat by some 39,000 CWA-IBEW employees along the East Coast (http://www.multichannel.com/news/distribution/unions-threaten-verizon-st...), and doesn't want any of its members, either formerly with unions or management, to help Verizon weather a possible strike.

Verizon employees from Maine to Virginia have threatened to walk out Wednesday unless their demands are met, but Verizon has said it is ready to keep delivering service, including FiOS video service, without them.

In a statement, BellTell Association President Jack Brennan said the CWA-IBEW members were just trying to get better healthcare and pension protections for themselves and their families. "“The Association of BellTel Retirees asks that our members decline to replace striking workers should the company ask," Brennan said.

Verizon has said it has been preparing for the possibility of a strike for a year--the union contract expired Aug. 1, and has been training employees to do "virtually" all the necessary jobs. "If a strike takes place, whether it’s one day, two weeks or longer, we are ready," said Bob Mudge, president of Verizon’s wireline network operations.

The unions’ contracts expired in August 2015, and they said it is now time to take a stand after offering “hundreds of millions of dollars in cost savings” and still not getting the basic job security they are seeking.

The association represents 230,000 Bell Atlantic, NYNEX, GTE, MCI, Idearc, and Verizon retirees, both union and management.