Monday Open Thread
Verizon wireline division workers are on strike, which may affect landline operations as well as installation of services like FiOS, its fiber-optic television and Internet lines. The usual, healthcare costs and pensions, are the sticking points. We are going to see more and more strikes, because with corporations across the country making record profits each quarter while still refusing to give up their many tax breaks, all the while asking their workers to sacrifice more just so the CEO can get a bigger bonus.
From Daily Kos:
Verizon’s demands include:
Continued contracting out of work to low-wage contractors, which means more outsourcing of good jobs overseas.
Eliminating disability benefits for workers injured while on the job.
Elimination of all job security provisions.
Eliminating paid sick days for new hires and limiting them to no more than five for any workers.
Freezing pensions for current workers and eliminating them for future employees.
Replacing the current high-quality health care plan with a high-deductible plan requiring up to $6,800 in additional costs.Meanwhile, Verizon is doing just fine:
2011 annualized revenues are $108 billion and annualized net profits are $6 billion.
Verizon Wireless just paid its parent company and Vodaphone a $10 billion dividend.
Verizon’s top five executives received compensation of $258 million over the past four years.
Herman Cain is being attacked by conservatives for his apology to American Muslims. He forgot that to be a conservative, you must hate everyone who is not like you. And he forgot that, to conservatives, apologies for being wrong make you weak and wrong yourself.
They could use some solidarity from their wireless division. Anybody know how it came to pass that the wireless division is (apparently) not organized?
This morning, there were approximately ten Verizon workers assembled and standing outside of the local Newark location (Rte. 72, next to Analtech). When I drove by at 7AM, they were being initimidated by FIVE State Troopers, whose vehicles were blocking a lane of traffic. I saw and heard multiple troopers screaming at the workers to move away from the buildings and toward the road.
Since when do the State Police act as the muscle for coporate power? It was disappointing to see our police officers acting as Verizon’s bouncers.
It would be too bad if Miss Utility came down with a headache and a 45-day waiting list.
Solidarity, folks.
I wonder if it would help if we all delayed paying our Verizon bills for a month.
Obama live at 1PM:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/president-obama-speaks-press-42
Their wireless division is what’s making all the money now. They may as well be two separate companies. Every time a home line gets termed for wireless and cable internet, their value depletes.
Speaking of which:
Dear Abby: I’ve been a subscriber to our Upstate Rag (News Journal) the past 23 years. My annual renewal bill for $143.30 just arrived in the mail today. And wouldn’t you know it, I received today also an offer from Wallstreet Journal to receive their news paper AND online version for $119.88 annual. I’m kind of sentimental about the Upstate Rag even though it has degenerated to a shameless leftwing plug with no business section to speak of. Aside from a few local stories of interest all I would be missing is the obits, with a switch to WJ. I’m torn about what to do.
Yours Truly,
Downstate Delbert.
Yeah, 1:35 now. Still waiting for HIS HIGHNESS to show his face.
Probably still recuperating from his hip-hop bar-b-q.
UGH. ONE RAPPER (Jay Z, you know, the guy who’s wife sang at all of the presidents inagural events and who is teamed up on Michelle’s exercise campaign) came to that event. Black people does not equal “hip hop BBQ”
http://gawker.com/5828148/did-you-know-that-obama-hosted-a-hip-hop-bbq-yesterday
There are about 20 or so Verizon workers walking picket line on Rehoboth Avenue. Plan to be out there with them when I get off from work.
I saw four people out this morning at the corner of Philadelphia Pike and Silverside Road in north Wilmington. They were wearing red shirts, although one was a Roy Halladay Phillies shirt.
“(Rte. 72, next to Analtech)”
What goes on behind the walls of Analtech?
Regarding TNJ: Did you notice no TV section this past Sunday? Today I noticed an ‘invitation’ to subscribe to a new improved TV section for an additional 50 cents per week. There’s a coy ad in section A, p. 4 of today’s paper, as well as small print above the daily (pm hours) listing in Local.
Doesn’t look like listings will be available online, either.