Today, The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 827’s main phone number in East Windsor, NJ suddenly stopped working. Also, the IBEW had a different phone number providing union members and the general public with information regarding the current strike against Verizon. That number, 609-448-0827 is now re-directed to Verizon’s Voice Messing Service. This happened about the same time Verizon started their own informational hotline.
When you call the old IBEW informational tape number (609-448-0827) this is what you now hear, “Welcome to Verizon’s Voice Messing Service. To enter your mailbox, press star. Otherwise, please redial the number you are calling starting with the area code.”
The IBEW started a new informational line, 201-368-8875.
Right now, it is impossible to prove that Verizon is maliciously trying to silence the union voice by shutting down union phone numbers, but how else can a phone number, used for years by the IBEW, be suddenly switched to Verizon’s voicemail service unless Verizon had a hand in it?
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) also has about 35,000 members on strike against Verizon as well. On Friday the CWA issued this following press release:
The Communications Workers of America has filed unfair labor practice charges against Verizon Communications for labor law violations in contract negotiations covering Verizon, Verizon Wireless and VCSI workers. The charges, filed with National Labor Relations Board offices in New York and Baltimore, make the case that Verizon has refused to bargain in good faith with CWA.
CWA is urging the NLRB to immediately order Verizon management to drop its refusal to bargain and negotiate in good faith as the law requires.
Verizon is demanding $1 billion in contract concessions from 45,000 workers in the northeast from the IBEW and CWA. According to union estimates, these concessions will cost the average worker $20,000 a year. Verizon hasn’t budged on these demands since the negotiations began.
Both unions made statements that would be willing to get back to work as long as Verizon agreed to bargain in good faith, but the strike continues into its second week.
Are you affected by this strike in anyway? Are you walking the picket lines or trying to get Verizon to fix your telephone? Please share your stories in the comments section below. If you like what you are reading, please take a look at my other articles.
Have pictures, videos, or a story you would like to share regarding the strike, e-mail me at MrTSantone@yahoo.com