Keep Verizon Workers in your Prayers

      Since August 7, 2011 Verizon employees have been working under their former contract.  Verizon refuses to negotiate fairly and responsibly.  It seems the media has forgotten about the ongoing struggle for a new and appropriate agreement.  Verizon workers deserve better treatment from such a corporate behemoth!  I watched the DVD sent to workers from Verizon.  It was a tearjerker from the Verizon side.  With the gazillion dollars they've made, how can they even pay their CEO?  Here is a CWA parody of the Verizon DVD.  It's funny and worth the click!  I only found one recent report from a news source here.
     I'll give you the low down on what the company wants and it is not funny at all!

• Eliminate pension accruals. For all current employees, your pension would be frozen as of December 31, 2011 and no new employee would receive a pension.
• Eliminate the Pension Cash-Out option.
• Modify the 401(k) Plan and reduce the Corporate Profit Sharing (CPS).
• Eliminate Sickness Death Benefits

Eliminate Job Security:

• Eliminate the Job Security Provisions for all employees.
• Eliminate the Movement of Work Protection
• Eliminate the 35 mile transfer provision
• Eliminate provisions in Force Adjustment Plan
• Eliminate New Contracting Initiatives agreement – which would allow them to increase the level of contracting

Eliminate Benefits:

Eliminate the current health care, prescription, dental, and vision plans and offer plans with high deductibles and premiums.

Active Employees – Annual

Premiums range from $1026 for single to $4580 family

And

Increase deductibles in network to $850 single - $ 2250 for family

Increase deductibles out of network to $1,000 for single - $3,000 for family

And

Increase Out of Pocket Maximum to $2,000 for single and $6,000 for family

And

Increase co-pays for specialist to $25.

And

Require co-pays for X-Rays and labs

And

Reduce most in network coverage from 100% to 80%

Reduce most out of network coverage from 100% to 60%

Retirees – Non Medicare Eligible – Annually

Premiums Range from $1026 for single to $4480 for family

And

Increase deductibles in network to $850 single - $ 2250 for family

Increase deductibles out of network to $1,000 for single - $3,000 for family

And

Increase Out of Pocket Maximum to $2,000 for single and $6,000 for family

And

Increase co-pays for specialist to $25.

And

Require co-pays for X-Rays and labs

And

Reduce most in network coverage from 100% to 80%

Reduce most out of network coverage from 100% to 60%

Retiree – Medicare Eligible Annually

Premiums range from $181 for single to $1970 for family

And

Increase deductibles in network to $850 single - $ 2250 for family

Increase deductibles out of network to $1,000 for single - $3,000 for family

And

Increase Out of Pocket Maximum to $2,000 for single and $6,000 for family

And

Increase co-pays for specialist to $25.

And

Require co-pays for X-Rays and labs

And

Reduce most in network coverage from 100% to 80%

Reduce most out of network coverage from 100% to 60%

Eliminate Other Benefits

• Eliminate accident disability benefits.
• Reduce Sick Time.
• Eliminate All Short Notice EWD’s.
• Eliminate the next Step Program 
• No wage increase

     Verizon needs to stop playing with the livelihood of their employees and offer a decent contract!  As Americans, we have outsourced enough jobs already.  The mood of the country is for better jobs with better pay!  Corporate greed is disgusting and Verizon is oozing with it.  They say profits are down... well, according to the Wall Street Journal, their revenues fell only 1.2% in the first six months of 2011 to 20.4 billion.  Shareholders earned three billion.  Need to cut employee benefits, I don't think so!
     To the Verizon workers, let me say your bothers/sisters at AT&T are behind you!  If you don't get a contract soon, we may join you in August for a family feud.  A teamed onslaught against corporate greed!  A nationwide strike would be a terrible thing but may be the only method to make both companies appreciate us.