Days into the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) union boss-ordered strike against Verizon, disturbing reports of union militancy -- and their effects on workers and customers alike -- are becoming widespread. The Associated Press have reported over 70 instances of sabotage in just the first few days of the strike.
In the video below (warning: explicit language), a striking union militant uses his young daughter as a prop, demanding she block a Verizon truck from moving while he curses out the Verizon employees in the truck.
Here's a rundown of some of the other disturbing reports:
- One non-striking Verizon worker in New York was shot with a BB gun by union militants.
- The Boston Herald interviews a 64-year old mother of five about union strikers who picketed outside of her house while Verizon technicians repaired her broken phone line
- Senior citizens at an independent living facility in Maryland whose phone lines were knocked out in a recent storm have been forced to share phones, if they've been able to reach families members at all, reports the Baltimore Sun
The National Right to Work Foundation issued special legal notices informing CWA and IBEW union members of their rights to resign from union membership and return to work (see the notices here and here). Foundation attorneys have provided free legal aid to victims of union violence.
Comments
get use to it
this type of violence is going to be happening alot more. Union or non-union people will turn violent when they desperate. And the way things are in the middle class and lower class union or not. If your well-off or high class the day will come when the violence is at YOUR door step. Money will not save you then.
Roofer
I found that 99% of the non-union labor I've been associated with will protect themselves and not go off the deepend with violence like 90% of the union labor does. As a former military and recently a special ops personnel I can only tell youor friends bring it on. I know wealthy individuals that worked hard for what they have and to have some scumbag try to take it because he thinks he deserves it. Lights out partner Light freakin Out
Fairness for Families
After 35 Years in the Union and t;he backing of Prudential Life Insurance I'm able to retire and provide for my FAMILY
Scumbag?
Wow, I'm talking about people revolting over the indifferences in our business practices. What person should make 100x what their employees make.
NO ONE.
The funny part is your former military person who risk their life for what maybe $40,000 a year. Then Mr. CEO who makes $40 million and risks nothing.
At least the unions help soldiers, scumbag. You ever heard of Helmuts to Hardhats, unions work with this program to get soldiers a good paying job when they return. What has your wealthy individuals done to help our soldiers. Nothing.
People won't take your rich friends stuff because they think they deserve it. It will happen because their STARVING or have no HOME to go to. Survival of the fittest, I'm sure being a big secret special ops guy you know all about survival and what links people will go
Unions are not always the best answer
I worked for a company that was non-union,then came a part of the teamsters shuttle drivers, while I was away they voted in the Union and when I got back I found out. The ONLY Rights the workers had with that Union was to pay DUES. They had no rights to slow down, sit out, or Strike. If they Demanded Union guarantied salary they would get Less Pay, they was not offered any Medical, NOTHING but to pay Dues. So whats so good about that? Before the Union a worker just left didn't quit was not fired just left in the middle of his shift. Came back next week and went right back to work no problems. I for one was not paying any dues with out any work protection so we(I)got them voted out.
Unions was important at one time but I don't believe that anymore.
Lotta class, this moron uses
Lotta class, this moron uses that foul language in front of his little girl, then they wonder why folks are against them. Another thing, I would imagine the guys in the truck were management, dont these idiots realize they arent scabs!!!! a scab is a union worker who crosses the picket line not management.
TYPICAL UNION MENTALITY
This is the typical mentality of Union Thugs. How much longer must we allow this to go on. America was built on pride not Strikes. Anyone that would go on strike while we have brave Men and Woman Fighting and Dying to keep the insanity away from home, only to have even worse carnage here instead caused by Unions demanding more & more & more. It's Called the American Way, How about Making a living for a change. If it weren't for the Unions driving off all the Jobs to other countries We might Have a Job to go to. It's time Unions DIE a PAINFUL DEATH. If you cant stand on your own two feet and be promoted on your own merit maybe you don't deserve the job after all. only a Communist need a Union, a Real American has self respect, pride, & stands for an Army of One. What Are You?
Idiot
Brave men and women huh. Most of todays recruits went for the idea they would have their college paid for. They don't have to go away from home to stop the insanity, they could protect america from america. I guess you enjoy the idea of blowing up innocent people for the idea of WMD's and then sending all your tax dollars (if you even have a job) over seas to rebuild our stupid presidents mess, BUSH not Obama for all you idiots.
Secondly you should do some real research on why big factories relocate. I've actually had communications with these people, and there top ten list of reasons to locate somewhere do not even mention unions or somenones wages. They are more focused on tax breaks and infrastructure that would allow them to actually sell their products. I suggest you write about something you know.
In missouri there was talks of Ford extending their stay at Claycomo plant and some Republican idiot tried to say they were going to move cause Missouri is a Non-right to work state. Well guess what they didn't move due to tax breaks and they still are being run by union jobs. So I guess your statement about unions running jobs across seas, is just that a statement.
I would blame the CEO for being greedy.
Idiot
Roofer you are a complete brainwashed moron. I realize you think violence is the way to go and the unions think for you because you think everybody owe's you. Military need to protect America from idiots like you. Personally I think its time to take out the trash starting with you roofer look for the red dot
Violence
I'm not for violence in any manner. Pro active or Reactive. That's why I never joined the armed forces. But if threatened I can defend myself.
Wow your scary,"look for the red dot." Sounds like your the violence junky here
Verizon strike
What people do no understand, the union is there to protect their jobs, protect them from getting cheap health insurance and a lot of other stuff. If it wasn't for the unions a lot of companies that are trying to keep the unions out would not offer as good health packages, retirement packages and a lot of employees would be fired or terminated just as they were coming to their full hire date in order for the large companies to keep from having to pay medical and a lot of other things that the union protects them from. I am not pro union but I have worked under companies such as AT&T that are union and also under companies that are non union. I have enjoyed working for companies from both sides. The man that has his little girl there, is trying to point out that people that hire on to work while the employees are on strike are what they call scabs, and they are making the strike hang on longer and a lot of them are not doing work that is up to par that the people that do the job every day does. The scabs are keeping the union workers on strike longer and keeping them from putting food on the table for their families. They also do not go on strike just for giggle and kicks, they go on strike because the union tells them they have to in order to get the bargaining power they need to get the company to make a compromise and settle the strike. If you have not worked under a company that is union then it is besst not to make comments. As for the language that was used in front of his daughter he probably uses it every day just like millions of other people in this country, it is unfortunate that this is what this country has come to but change does not happen over night either. How do I know that you don't use the same kind of language either and in that case who are you to be pointing a finger. That is like the pot calling the kettle black. I guess I would also have to say that if that makes him a moron you must be a oxymoron.
Verizon strike
WOW a guy who can't make a decision, not someone you want in a combat situation or as a cop of firefighter. I workded in 4 different unions over my life time and they all sucked. I mean sucked the blood out of you and sucked the life out of companies I worked for until they either went out of business or were sold. Unions are a cancer in this country and around the world they have always resorted to violence and get the uneducated morons like this idiot to follow them. So this Mr. Verizon you think there is nothing wrong with this JERK talking this way in front of his little girl they way he was then sir or madam you are as ignorant as he. Semper Fi
Worked Union?
You probably not any good at anything besides running your mouth about your days as a SOLDIER. That's why you went through so many unions, if at all.
Sounds like you cant make a decision. O wait you need a commanding officer to tell you what to do, because your probably still a private. Yes sir, let me serve you sir, Semper Fi that
You need to re-look you misses something?
Exactly what has the Union done? Lets See;
They have driven Labor cost up so high 70% of all Manufacturing has relocated to other countries for lower labor cost.
They have driven Medical Labor cost up so high, you need to mortgage your house to go to a hospital, much less go to the ER.
They Force every employee to join the Union in every State that does not have Right To Work Laws and even if you don't want to join they still take dues from you weather you like it or not, sounds a lot like Communism. Of course your probably too young to remember the Threat to the World Communism Had on the World but for our Great Military the only Communism America has to suffer with now are Unions.
Because they have driven Labor cost up so high you can buy a House cheaper than a new Car. much less the fact you can buy 2 new Kia's for the price of one overpriced American 2 door hatchback.
You know I can go on & on & on
roofer
Again your ignorance is amazing. Labor, cost of living everything goes up in time. Medical labor has nothing to do with unions you idiot. Try doctors who make millions, our companies raising prices on prescription drugs, and did you ever think its cause over half of america has no insurance because their job will not offer BENEFITS so they go and get if for free and our prices go up. Maybe if your overly rich republicans would offer good paying jobs with benefits like i have, our cost would go down. Of course your an idiot who blames unions for everything.
Do some research Gomer Pyle and you will relize labor cost in an American made car is 10% of total cost. They spend more on advertising than they do to pay some union trained worker. Plus all the CEO make Millions, there's your cost. O yea your POS KIA is worth about as much as a go-cart when you drive off the lot. Those are the biggest pieces of shit cars on the road, I know someone who bought a brand new one, POS broke with in a year.
Again your dumb no one has to stay at the union shop. Union jobs only account for 10% of the work force in America. I know this is hard for idiots but that leaves you 90% left to go work at a non-union shop. O wait those places don't offer good pay and benefits who would want to do that.
Ive lived 31 yrs and you say Communist are gone, sure they are. that's exactly why Russia supposedly lost contact with their latest space launch. There spying on you right now. Saying there's no more communism would be like saying there's no more racism.
Bargaining again :)
Alright, Verizon is going to come back to the bargaining table to talk to the CWA and IBEW. Looks like the strong minded unions will prevail again. Congradulations to all the workers who stood their ground against this corporate GREED.
GREED
It's Called the American Way, How about Making a living for a change. If it weren't for the Unions driving off all the Jobs to other countries We might Have a Job to go to. It's time Unions DIE a PAINFUL DEATH. If you cant stand on your own two feet and be promoted on your own merit maybe you don't deserve the job after all. only a Communist need a Union, an American has self pride, What Are You?
A good living at that
Yup I make anywhere from 50k to 65k. Have a house, two cars, two kids, health insurance, pension, a pitbull, and I can thank myself for being the smart one to join the union.
Non-union roofers work for minimum wage and cant afford a house or insurance for their kids. But your right being non-union is so much better. And I could be considered an American. The funny part is you hire these non-union people who float from job to job because of the bad pay and you get yourself shotty work. So you can plan on buying 2 roofs, since your first one was put on wrong. That's cost effective.
NFL
The NFL even knows the value of Unions. You watch and cheer for union members every Sunday. I guess that is different since you probably enjoy football, and you don't want to lose that. Corporations have there own union which are lobbyist, even lawyers are in a union, its called the B.A.R. Anytime you have a group of people with similar interest there will be a need for unions, so get over it were not going anywhere.
Union Violence
That anyone would subject their child to this is proof that they are not fit to be a parent. He should be required to get counseling by Child Protective Services. What has happened to FREEDOM in this country? No one should be required to belong to a union, it should be a free and respected choice. We (this country) doesn't care about anyone anymore. It's all about me and money, money, money and greed.
Union dues
A small % of my gracious wage goes to union dues. Which in turn a small portion of that goes to political funds.
Corporations also have political funds, but are way more lucrative than our little unions. Hell they have there own website which your on right now.
Small %
well if your so free to throw away your money, you can send my small % to - PO BOX DUMBAXX
I make double the non-union wage
Or you could say my representation nets me twice that of non-union roofer. I pay $1.60 an hour in dues. I make $16 more an hour than a non-union roofer, so you could say my dues net me 10x more than i put into it.
Or you could say those non-union guys pay $16 in dues. There bids are always close on roofing projects which leads any smart person to see that the owners keep all the extra cash. Union bids and non-union bids are always pretty close.
I'd say non-union owners have found a way to fool their employees. Hell their paying $16 an hour to their boss.
STAGED!!!!
WOW,he tells his daughter her stand in front of this truck and camera which is suspicious. And its just one guy, I see no other union people even close to this asshole. This is staged, even if not he's obviously a lone wolf. Nobody is with him. I say its totally staged by some anti-union organization. Nice try!!!!!
Reply
It's obvious that a second person is standing in front of the trucks passenger side as well as the cameraman, but that desnt fit so well with your agenda does it union scumbag.
3 people
Wow 3 people, who were paid to stage this.(And a camerman)
Disguisting. It's sad however that this mentality is so common
The entire union issue that has been highlighted in recent times, from the whole mess in Wisconsin to the present Verizion issue, is the prefect example of what happens when a society has evolved into a herd of sheep who take their freedoms for granted, and allow political mobs to do more and more to further their control. I've realized since I was in high school that modern unions are nothing but a political machine and they more often than not, care nothing about their dues paying members unless their plight can further the ambitions of their politics. Unions had a purpose initially, when industry was unregulated and poor conditions and sub par wages were pushed on the workforce. Naturally a collective group could make a difference in changing things and unions had a natural place in society. As soon as industry was brought under the reigns of government regulation, and the economics of industry sought a balance in the form of fair wages, the union became obsolete. I firmly believe that the same laws that regulate our industries should have abolished the union form that promoted the idea that any worker entering service would be required to join and pay dues, not to mention the obvious potential for abuse that exists in allowing unions to spend money on politics and lobbying.
It sickens me to watch the scum that so profoundly and often times violently, attempts to force their ideology onto all who disagree. This asshole was using his daughter as a shill and warping her young mind with violent confrontations with independent employees, why? Because greed has established itself, along with a sense of entitlement into our society and a good number of our fellow citizens have made it clear they care nothing about the constitution and the principles the USA was founded upon. Not if these interfere with their greedy lifestyles. The really disgusting part is the unions push for political leaders who more and more show socialism as their modus operandi, who extend harmful government regulation of business and create an environment that forces businesses to shell out more and more just to keep a employee on the books legally (payroll taxes, out of control workers comp payments, etc etc), how can one expect that business to offer enhanced benefits and make life easier for its employees? It's a simple answer, and that is one of the top reasons we have all but lost our manufacturing base to foreign lands, because those lands made it much more profitable for the business in term of overhead and the vast majority of these companies take very good care of their new foreign employees regardless of what the media tries to sell (I know because I interact with foreign based workers employed by US companies on a regular basis). So, long story short, and regardless of my ranting, the attitude of the man in this video, and shared by many more like minded scumbags, is probably the single greatest threat to the continuity of the USA. Violence and intimidation are common tactics and they only grow more bold as these events progress. The day will come when this country will be faced with a second occurrence of a civil conflict I am afraid. May God have mercy on our nation and it's people......
Enjoy your long hours- Non-right to work
The states that work the most
According to a 2010 report from the U.S. Labor Department, residents of Nevada put in the most time at work, averaging 37 hours per week. Rounding out the top-10 states with the longest workweeks were:
-Wyoming 36.7
-Louisiana 36.5
-Texas 36.3
-Kentucky 36.2
-Alabama 36.0
-District of Columbia 35.8
-Mississippi 35.6
-South Carolina 35.6
-Oklahoma 35.5
8 of these are non-right to work states. I see a pattern, no unions= shitty work hours, and i would bet there wages are low and most of these have poor health care.
So rot in your own pool of ignorance
Unions
You are the problem in America. Unions had a place in America 50 years ago. Now they are just organized crime. Unions suck the life out of American's and turn them inot "bottom-feeders". The video of the the guy who pimped his daughter to stand infront of the Verizon truck is the lowest type of scum in America.
Union Suck, Period. They need to be washed from the face of America so the country can get back on its feet and continue to be the super-power it is.
This union would not be
This union would not be forced to do so if Verizon would agree with their terms to give them what they want. They dont want more, but what the want is what they had before Verizon took it away. These people are loosing their home because of Verizon! How dare you say something like that about desperate people who just want appropriate jobs. Yo should be ashamed...
So No Right to Work= less than 40 hours.
Apparently, 36 hours work is = to full time. I always thought it was 40 hours X 52 = Annual Salary/Pay.
1st and formost I trust no data coming from policical appointed agencies.
2nd you apparently feel that is it your RIGHT to get free health care, retirement payed for by either taxes or by the coercion of extortion of an employer.
There are 22 right to work states-notice anything. Most of these have lower unemployment than the MUST join the UNION to get a job states, like the 8 northeastern states, California BROKE,
Please add Wisconsin to this mix, because someone finally got smart.
Alabama
Arizona †
Arkansas †
Florida †
Georgia
Idaho
Iowa
Kansas
Louisiana
Mississippi †
Nebraska
Nevada
North Carolina
North Dakota
Oklahoma †
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas 40% of all new jobs over past 2 years.
Utah
Virginia
Wyoming
Nothings Free
Nope I bargain for my retirement and health care and nice wage. Funny thing is my boss is more than happy to pay these wages and benefits. He receives experienced and trained professionals to do the job, and if you're not your fired were you can go and get hired by some non-union shop that will use the uneducated idiots that cause numerous accidents and poor craftsmanship.
Non-Right to work states have a higher accident/death rate than a Right to work state. They make annually 5,000 less per year on average. Look that up.
Not so fast...
Did you ever think that maybe the higher rate of accidental death and injury might be totally unrelated to whether a state is pro right to work? Or maybe your sources are biased and make up stuff to get their message across? It could be true. Of course the same thing could be said about the anti-union side. The truth is, both sides have blood on their hands. The pro-union side is obviously akin to organized crime, forcing employers to pay unfairly high wages to a select group of people, who then pay their union bosses money to keep their jobs and the union bosses then pour money to their favorite politician who then uses their power to give Unions an unfair advantage by passing laws that do this. Sure that works out ok if you're in a Union, but it doesn't work for the employer, who tries things like moving jobs over seas to reduce overhead and raising the price of the products he makes. Then there are the anti-union folks, who don't realize the purpose of Unions is to keep robber barons (Like Verizon) from making money off the broken backs of their employees. It's a fine balancing game, and I think we can all agree that neither side is completely innocent. If Unions would just stop their shenanigans and be reasonable, we wouldn't have this problem.
My source is experience
Ive worked on these job sites so I know from experience. I work right on the state line, and jobs done in missouri are usually more safer. See when you pay those low wages you get people who drift from one occupation to another, in turn they usually have no idea of the dangers involved in a certain field. That puts other people and themselves at risk. You pay someone an honest wage and they will stay at this job as a career, and then they can be trained properly. I know this from first hand experience and not some other source, like the national right to work website.
Union Experience
I was raised in a family where my father was a life long Teamster Union member. My father walked strike lines and since my father's place of employment was within walking distance from our house I would visit my father when he was on the strike line. Although I did not personally witness any violence against "scabs", my father would tell me stories of what union members did to scabs. After high school I joined the National Guard and became a military policeman. My unit was called out to provide security at a strike site. I witnessed first hand the violence directed at "scabs" and at us providing security. I later became a civilian police officer and was hired by a police dept where I had to join the union. My first union meeting where I thought our rep was going to inform us of the contract negotiation strategy turned out to be an hour long rant by our union rep. The rep started yelling and swearing about how our police chief does not care about us,he will try to screw us over and so on . The rep never told us how the union was going to negotiate our contract and left a very negative feeling among the officers at that meeting. Shortly after that meeting we voted to get rid of that union. I believe unions no longer care about union members welfare, they are more interested in power and political connections, it is time for unions to go away. By the way that union member who put his child in front of the truck at the Verzion strike could have been arrested in my state for child endangerment.
Fair?
What's fair that Verizon makes billions in profit. I make less than 65k a year. What do they do to deserve outragous salaries? Hell on top of there salaries they get vacations and kickbacks. I work 40-50 hours a week on roofs which is hot, dangerous, and extremely hard on your body. And you say Im greedy or unfair get real.
Ya mean that you didnt know
Ya mean that you didnt know you would have to get on a roof to install Verizons equipment? if you dont think its fair..........quit!!! Oh and by the way, isnt that what they got into business for? to make money isnt that the point? why are you so worried about what others make? do you also hate Trump, Buffett, Walton etc.
Im a unions roofer
I don't work for verizon, I just stumbled on to this blog. I was actually doing some research on Right to work states versus Non-Right to work states. I just seen all the comment about union thugs. I ve been in Building Trades union for 12 years I won't quit because I actually do make a good wage. My boss is actually happy being a union contractor. It helps him secure more high end jobs for us. Ive never seen BT union act in this mannor in all the years ive been around. I think this is staged or 1 idiot. There's idiots in every situation, I just dont feel this guy is a good example of union workers. At least not were I'm from.
No
Trump actually uses unions to build alot of his hotels. So no. Walton also uses alot of unions in my area, so no again. Warren Buffett, Im nuetral. I know companies go into business to make money, but you can't make all that money without a work force. To have a good work you force need to pay somewhat reasonable wages that people can afford to live on. The more a worker makes the more he will spend which keeps this economy going. The people who are making billions do not reinvest in their communities and here in our economy. Its spent on vacations, sporty cars, luxurious funiture. so the money they spend is spread out across the world when everyday working people spend their money in their communitites. I know I'm not buying no brazilian made couch. I get mine at a store here, where somebody has a job selling it to me.
You're a moron who thinks he's entitled
You are a jealous imbecile who thinks he's entitled to other peoples money..
You're a moron who thinks he's entitled
You are a jealous imbecile who thinks he's entitled to other peoples money..
Boss can't do it
Nope I just know that some people like yourself and the owners couldn't even climb your fat ass up a ladder. So I don't think Im entitled to anybodies money, but if there lazy asses want the job done right and professional that's were I chime in and collect my wages. Its as much mine as it is the companies considering they couldn't last at my job for 1 Hour. Or you could hire Jose who can't speak English and doesn't pay any taxes and spends what little money he gets in Mexico.
Your actually the moron who probably makes minimum wage, and is mad because I have balls to stand up for my standard of living.
There's still bad contractors.
There are still companies who pay unfair wages and hire undocumented workers who are hired every day to work on government jobs. Most of these workers do not pay there taxes, and have poor standards for workmanship. Your tax dollars are that you and I pay are being wasted. Unions today help bring light on these type of contractors, and work to make better working conditions for the workers. There ties with political are only to ensure someone is on the working class side. Corporations have there own form of Unions to help with their cause, there called Lobbyist, who make 10 fold what a union representative would make.
Really?
Look . . . I don't condone the behavior of this protester but at least he has the guts to stand up for himself and his family. Corporate America continues to prosper off the backs of the workers and yet they continue to take, take, take. Why? So their CEO can have another sports car? If you want to talk greed at least know what the hell you are talking about. Verizon is making money hands over fist and wants to screw the employees that made their company and are still making their company. I for one hope that you someday figure out that workers are in this together and only by supporting one and other will we all prosper. If not . . take a close look at Mexico because that is what where we are headed . . . rich and poor. But whatever you do, don't pretend like you support democracy and then talk negatively about union because that is what unionism is . . . democracy in the workplace.
Teachning your kids?
Seriously, that guy is pathetic. What a terrible excuse for a parent. There is a way to stand up for your family while teaching them values. This loser shows the wrong way.
Freedom to work!
Unions rule by force, and are not for freedom, whatever you imagine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bujlVEwJI&feature=player_embedded
No one Forces you to be union
No one forces anyone to be union, are you retarded. Unions only have 10% of all work. So there is another 90% who are not union. Common sense should tell you that there are plenty of places to work that are non-union. You have to sign up to be in a union, if you're not interested don't sign up. Nobody forces anybody to do a thing. What you meant was to get a job were you make a good wage, good benefits, and equal pay for all you probably would have to join some kind of union. No business will listen to you when your all by yourself asking for fairness in the workplace. So don't join union you dont have too. Just don't expect your job to be very rewarding.
While it is true that no one
While it is true that no one forces you to be union, they are trying to institute a new rule whereby a 30% yes vote means the union is shoved down the throats of the other 70% and that is wrong, also they want an open ballot and thats not right either.
Retarded is a strong term
No, sir... We are not "retarded". And there is just one, small flaw in your thinking. No one forces anyone to be in a union? Well, if you're not in the union, you certainly are pressured to be. Non Union workers only suffer because union workers are rewarded with ridiculous benefits that they feel they are entitled to. If you don't join the pack, you are left out in the cold. Also, with a little research, I am sure you will find that most work places DO require the workers to be in a union. And if they aren't, they are considered to be "Scabs". You hear the term thrown around in the video. A scab is someone who does the work of union workers but without receiving the same generous benefits. Unions despise these people, and it is in their best interest to recruit them to their side, otherwise scabs would run the union workers out of business with their competitive wages and reasonable benefits.
Be careful not to throw around the word "retarded". He who lives in a glass house should not cast stones.
Yup retarded
If you dont want to be union go work somewhere else. But you DO relize we make more because we stand together. Non-union people are left to bargain as 1.
Which means you wont get shit.
And yes you are retarded-easy math non-union 90% market share
union 10% market share
That means there are alot more of your favored non-union places to work. O wait you probably do work at one of these places and are mad because your to afraid to actually stand up to someone and demand a fair wage.
I know its easier to sit on a computer and BITCH