the worst capitalist company - VERIZON

[Jesus Christ]

NEWARK, N.J. – Black telephone workers at Verizon are continuing their fight to force the company to make Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday a paid holiday. Although Dr. King’s birthday was won as a federal and state holiday, in private industry only twenty-six percent of employees at private companies have won a paid holiday. Many find it unbelievable that a company as large as Verizon, with so many Black employees and a large Black customer base, is not on the right side when it comes to Dr. King’s birthday. Verizon workers said private industry must not be let off the hook when it comes to respecting the contributions of King and the African American people’s struggle for justice.

During the contract struggle of 2000, when the issue of King’s birthday as a paid holiday was pushed to the side, Black workers at Verizon (members of IBEW Local 827) decided to get organized. They formed Black Telephone Workers For Justice (BTWFJ) and dedicated themselves to forcing Verizon to recognize this issue. “It was clear to us, that only as an organized force could we mount a struggle to make Verizon see that Black workers are serious about this issue,” Ron Washington, BTWFJ president, told the World.

Black workers went to union meetings and published a monthly newsletter, “Finally got the 411!” which helped to spread their struggle throughout Essex County. They also embarked upon building unity with community organizations in the Newark area.

In January 2001, they called for the first company-wide demonstration, on King’s birthday. The demonstration and rally, held in downtown Newark across from the Verizon headquarters, enjoyed community and labor support and was a huge success, despite the fact that the local was not officially involved. In the subsequent demonstrations of January 2002 and 2003, however, the local union fully supported the demonstrations and demand. “This is a clear victory for our efforts,” said Washington. “In addition, after two years of struggle Dr. King’s birthday is now one of the key demands in this year’s contract struggle.”

Verizon’s contract with its union employees is up August 2003, and workers are determined to make the issue of Dr. King’s birthday as important as wages or benefits.


so here we have Verizon not recogizing one of the greatest men of all time just to save a few bucks and so they can produce more crappy phones and services
it makes me sick

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

If I worked for Verizon or owned one of their phones, i would quit or destroy it.

[Jesus Christ]

thats why i own a Nokia :)
they probably are just as bad though

[Dirty Commie]

Ya know, the union for Verizon (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; IBEW) employees is having a massive strike, so far, it's in North carolina, but spreading around the east coast.

[Jesus Christ]

anybody know the head of the movement?

[Dreadnaht1]

For some reason this disgraceful action by Verizon doesn't especially suprise me. They are afterall an extremely large, multi-national, multi-platform mega-corporation who doesn't mind stepping on the toes of the working man or offering good service either (I owned a Verizon phone for a while, shitty reception, shitty service, and even shittier plans). This company is most likely doomed to go belly up in a while anyway just like AOL will and how Enron has.

I look forward to the future ;)

-dREaD

[Marina]

I'm likely being far too literal, but I must say that Verizon Wireless, though disgusting, bloated, and government-subsized like most American corporations, is by no means truly dangerous or evil. I think that the tie for "worst" capitalist company would be between American "defense" firms (GIANT corporations that produce everything from nuclear weapons to consumer goods and sometimes even sell LIFE INSURANCE [in the case of GE]) and oil companies. These firms openly plot to rule. They already rule. And we let them.

Oh, and BTW, I must agree that I'm sick of corporatiosn pulling this kind of petty crap with their under-paid, over-worked employees. Workers in America are losing ground at an exponential rate as corporations and smaller companies get around government legislation that forces them to give workers some security and benefits by hiring contract workers. I'm sure the Verizon workers are not paid enough and are forced to work overtime like most adults I know. Give these people MLK day off! If we're going to treat COLUMBUS DAY (don't even get me started...) as a serious, time-off holiday, surely the holiday for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, who actually ACCOMPLISHED something, should be observed!

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

we should all write to the executives of Verizon demanding a piad vacation on Dr. King Day.

[Jesus Christ]

good idea Victor
everybody write a letter demanding the recognition of Martin Luther King in the Verizon conglomerate!!!
or better call them

Gale Given - President
(304)344-7625
[email protected]

[Sabocat]

Verizon was something on the order of the 5th leading money spending lobbyist group lining the pockets of Senators and Representatives.

They have worked very hard to de-regulate telephone service. The result has been higher pricing with sub standard customer service.

And Primus....you're Nokia phone most likely uses Verizon or ATT phone lines. The phone equipment makes no difference. Companies like Sprint, Singular, all jump on the Verizon or ATT or one of the other Bell's backbones at some point.

[commiegal]

what do you expect for someone with so much power to do? its totally typical for verizon to pull something like that again. other companies do it too. you shouldnt be too surprised.

[Jesus Christ]

Quote: from Disgustapated on 4:51 pm on June 9, 2003
Verizon was something on the order of the 5th leading money spending lobbyist group lining the pockets of Senators and Representatives.

They have worked very hard to de-regulate telephone service. The result has been higher pricing with sub standard customer service.

And Primus....you're Nokia phone most likely uses Verizon or ATT phone lines. The phone equipment makes no difference. Companies like Sprint, Singular, all jump on the Verizon or ATT or one of the other Bell's backbones at some point.



it was a joke, but a very bad one
my bad

[sypher]

I never did trust Verison wireless. ever since they tried to make the symbol for victory and peace (index and middle finger streched out to form a V) into a corperate name recognition.

Not that I trust any corperation but, you know

(Edited by sypher at 2:10 am on June 10, 2003)

[commiegal]

i guess it was one of those "hidden" message things. a way of pursuaying a person to buy a VERIZON phone because of its "peacefull" message rather than just lifting your thumb and index finger and forming a V. well the could aslo be creative... for money.