Another video posted referencing IBEW Local 827 on Tuesday shows how a semi-truck, apparently operated by the local Teamsters union, just happened to break down in front of the Verizon entrance, making it harder for people to enter:
UPDATE:
According to a Verizon press release on Monday, there has been:
- Ten incidents of fiber-optic lines being deliberately cut in the Bronx, Pomona, Farmingdale and Guilderland in New York; two separate incidents in Tewksbury in Massachusetts; incidents in Bel Air in Maryland, and East Dover, Oakland and Plainfield in New Jersey.
- An outage due to stolen electronic equipment in Cedar Grove, N.J., affecting a local police department, among other customers.
- An incident due to tampering with a heating system at a central office in Manhattan.
According to Verizon Chief Security Officer Mike Mason.
“In addition to inconveniencing our customers, these deliberate disruptions of our network have affected hospitals, paramedics, fire fighters, law enforcement and other first responders. Verizon is working closely with local authorities to investigate these sabotage incidents, and identify and prosecute those responsible to the fullest extent of the law. And we will not hesitate to terminate any employee who may be involved in these acts.Verizon is offering a $50,000 reward for “information leading to the arrest and prosecution of individuals that intentionally damage Verizon cables or facilities or cause or attempt to cause physical injury to any Verizon employee or contractor.”
“In addition, there have been circumstances where union picketers are showing contempt for our customers by illegally preventing us from accessing the tools we need to serve them,” said Mason. “We are taking legal action to end this unlawful activity.”
Verizon urges anyone who witnesses sabotage of Verizon property or any suspicious activity to call 911 immediately, then call the Verizon Security Control Center at 1-800-997-3287.The incidents of sabotage follow a weekend of protesters and inflatable rats descending on the homes of Verizon executives.
On Sunday, CWA and IBEW bosses called their members out on strike, following a break down in negotiations over health care costs. The union members work in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C.
The last strike involving this unit was in 2000 and involved some 85,000 Verizon workers. Since that time, the unions have lost some 40,000 members as more and more customers turn toward Verizon’s wireless service, which is non-union.
In the 2000 strike, there were at least 455 incidents of sabotage, vandalism and harassment reported–including the near-electrocution of two Verizon strikers who mistakenly cut through a 13,000-volt power cable they thought was a phone line.
Due to the amount of union misinformation being spread in the media, Verizon has set up a website to address the various false claims made by the unions.
It’s only been a few days since 45,000 CWA and IBEW members walked off their jobs at Verizon, however, incidents of harassment, sabotage, and illegal picketing have already begun to pile up.
ReplyDeleteOn Tuesday, Verizon obtained an injunction in Pennsylvania and filed for one in Delaware “to prevent ‘illegal’ and ‘reprehensible’ strike activities such as keeping managers out of buildings.”
In one deplorable incident, a foul-mouthed IBEW member in New Jersey put his young daughter in front of a Verizon truck turning into a driveway as he berated the driver using expletives.
On a union Facebook page, a menacing ‘note’ was posted to ‘scabs’ that read (in part):
…Pretty tricky trying to get the jump on us, but we’re a lot smarter than you think. Can you see how are tactics are changing? How it seems like you can’t shake us? Can you feel the noose tightening? That noose is called union brotherhood….
[snip]
See you tomorrow…unless you man up and GO HOME!!
The Noose Around Your Throat,
IBEW-CWA
Separately, the union militants have posted a ‘scab list,’ identifying individuals who have crossed the unions’ picket lines, as well as a company boycott list.
On Monday, Verizon issued a press release, detailing several incidents of sabotage (including fiber-optic lines being cut in several states) and offering a $50,000 reward for “information leading to the arrest and prosecution of individuals that intentionally damage Verizon cables or facilities or cause or attempt to cause physical injury to any Verizon employee or contractor.”
As noted earlier this week, the last Verizon strike involving this unit was in 2000 and involved some 85,000 Verizon workers. Since that time, the unions have lost some 40,000 members as more and more customers turn toward Verizon’s wireless service, which is non-union.
In fact, according to the Atlantic, “between 2006 and 2011, Verizon landlines have declined from 47 million to 25 million — nearly a 50% collapse in five years.” This dramatic decrease in Verizon’s landline business is likely a key motivator in the company’s desire to have its unionized workforce begin contributing more toward their health care costs. And, since the strikers are out on strike against an old and dying business that only accounts for 12% of Verizon’s operating profits, the unions’ strength will be waning regardless of the length of this strike. [Verizon's more profitable wireless division is almost 100% non-union.]
In the meantime, while the CWA issued a statement stating that the union does not condone illegal actions, the actions of the union militants are beginning to resemble the 2000 strike with its 455 incidents of sabotage, vandalism and harassment.
Have they yet blown up a Government building and shot children at camp on an island?
ReplyDeleteAWWWW, poor union thugs get away with this and conservatives always get caught when they kill people instead of illegal park trucks.
Get some tissue you little hypocrite.
Now I see why you are called Crazy Joe. Are you ready to burn down businesses and beat up 'rich' white people at their homes? Why is it you don't care when the unions break the law?
ReplyDeleteChris,
ReplyDeleteWho called me crazy Joe? Mom's basement Steve?
But better yet, why is that I have to care about liberals and you can not care what Conservatives do. That's the only thing crazy to me.
Did the unionists do anything near as bad as the Norwegian conservative? Nope, but they got a blog. So you have little room to say anything to me about caring.
Pull your head out your RNC agenda ass be a man.