strike

Republicans Reject Union Workers But Respect Union Refs

Leo Gerard — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 07:48:10 -0400

Republicans’ reaction to last week’s Monday Night Football debacle was record breaking given their decades of hating on union workers.

After replacement refs bestowed on the Seattle Seahawks a game clearly won by the Green Bay Packers, GOP standard bearers Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan and even Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, the figurehead for GOP union-busting, called for the National Football League to restore its locked-out union refs.

Wait, what?

Unbelievably, it’s actually the sound of Republicans giving union refs a little respect. A union worker is to Republicans what comedian Rodney Dangerfield was to his stage wife – that is, a guy who can’t get no respect. Republicans have tried to tackle union rights since they were formally granted in 1935. The GOP admires business owners, not the working men and women whose labor is essential for companies to exist. The GOP believes owners and CEOs are indispensable but working stiffs are easily replaced. That’s what the NFL did – locked out the working stiffs and replaced them. That didn’t work out so well. And the GOP big wigs, in calling for the union refs’ reinstatement, admitted it. Amazing.

Here’s how it went down. First, the billion-dollar NFL locked out its union refs to save less than $5 million a year. That’s a lockout, not a strike. That means the refs were willing to work under the terms of their old contract until they could reach a new deal. But the NFL threw a little hissy fit and refused.

Lockouts don’t seem to make much sense. Logically, an employer would despise disruption and prefer workers continuing production until there’s agreement on a new contract. But that’s when workers are seeking a larger portion of the value of what they produce -- higher pay or benefits.

When employers want to slash pay and benefits, they lock out workers. Even massively profitable employers – like the NFL – do it in an attempt to take more for themselves and give less to workers.

And the key ingredient here is disrespect. They hold workers in such contempt that they think anyone can be replaced. Easily. No problem. Here’s what Ray Anderson, the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations, said in the early days of the lockout about the value of a ref:

“You’ve never paid for an NFL ticket to watch somebody officiate a game.”

That disrespect led directly to the Packers-Seahawks fiasco. From the outset, the replacement refs fumbled and bumbled. Coaches complained that games were out of control. Fans mocked the numerous bad calls.

Wisconsin Gov. Walker, who faced a recall over his attempts to squash the collective bargaining rights of his state’s public sector workers, tweeted afterward:

“After catching a few hours of sleep, the Packers game is still just as painful. #Returntherealrefs”

Paul Ryan, the GOP vice presidential nominee who backed Walker’s attempt to decimate union rights, said this at a town hall in Cincinnati the next day:

"Did you guys watch that Packer game last night? I mean, give me a break. It is time to get the real refs."

GOP nominee Mitt Romney, who called National Labor Relations Board officials “stooges,” agreed, telling a CNN reporter:

“I sure would like to see some experienced referees, with NFL experience, come back to the NFL playing fields.”

Of course, the only referees with NFL experience were the locked-out union ones. The substitutes were “real refs,” despite Ryan’s derision. They were, however, unseasoned. They lacked the training and time on the NFL field that the union refs have. In addition, they didn’t have the help of union ref Ed Hochuli, who assigned himself headmaster for a lockout boot camp. He sent his 120 fellow refs five-hour tests on rules, organized weekly conference calls on regulations and distributed game tape to ensure the union refs would be prepared when the NFL ended the lock out.

The same way NFL teams choose the top-performing players they can get or an employer selects the best workers for the job, the NFL picked Hochuli and the other 120 refs. The NFL believed those 121 individuals to be unrivaled. After they were hired, the refs received training and experience on the job. The same as all workers do.

Disregarding all that, employers increasingly lock out workers. In any given year now, workers strike 83 percent less often than they did 20 years ago. But employers now lock out workers so often that this measure taken against workers accounts for a record number of work disruptions.

This is disrespect. This is disregard for the value, skill, training and quality of workers. And it’s not safe. That was an argument made by NFL players who feared they’d be hurt in games they perceived to be unruly under substitute refs. The danger of replacements is a fact.

When Con Edison locked out 8,000 utility workers in New York last summer, at least two replacement workers – both managers – were hurt. One was burned in a manhole explosion and the other in a substation fire. Utility Workers Union spokesman John Melia said trying to replace trained and experienced utility workers with managers was unwise:

“We really doubt whether you can take someone out of an office cube and put him down a flaming manhole.”

The same was true when Honeywell International locked out its uranium processing workers in Metropolis, Ill., in 2010 and replaced them with substitutes whose training to handle the highly toxic combustible and corrosive chemicals used to process uranium for nuclear fuel was questionable. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission cited Honeywell for illegally coaching replacement workers on exams. And at least two dangerous incidents occurred at the plant while substitutes worked there, including a release of hydrofluoric acid.

Maybe now that they’ve seen what happened with the replacement refs, the GOP will respect workers.

Naw. That would be too good to be true, like the NFL reversing that bad call on the Packers-Seahawks game.

Verizon Fires 40 Workers From Strike

Dave Johnson — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 08:37:28 -0500

Verizon has fired 40 workers who took part in the strike this summer, saying they engaged in misconduct. Union leaders say this is a "heavy-handed" negotiating tactic to push for concessions at the bargaining table.

At the AFL-CIO Blog, Unions Fight Verizon’s Firings of Striking Workers,

IBEW Local 2222 Legislative Director Paul Feeney told the Boston Globe:

We think this is a heavy-handed technique that Verizon is using to pressure us at the negotiating table. The union is going to fight this through the court. The company couldn’t prove to us that they did anything wrong.

Investment blog Seeking Alpha describes this as part of Verizon's revenue strategy, saying this is one example of phone companies that "act like monsters," and "Verizon is playing hardball with its workers, firing strike leaders in an attempt to weaken workers' positions in future negotiations" and "squeeze more from workers."

Visit the CWA Stop Verizon Green page to learn how to help Verizon workers in their struggle to remain in the middle class.

Your Chance To Take A Stand Against Corporate Greed

Dave Johnson — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:18:12 -0400

Do you think that corporate greed has gotten out of control? Here is your chance to take a stand against corporate greed in a way that can make a difference. There is a greedy corporation that right now is trying to take away its workers' benefits and job security. Let's all back up the workers and stop this, and show people how it's done.

Verizon is a $100 billion-plus company, paying billions in dividends, paying some top executives as much as $50,000 a day, and now in the kind of corporate greed-grab we are so familiar with is asking its workers to take a big hit. Just because they can. Sound familiar? Want to do something about it?

Last week Verizon's workers scored a big victory for the economy and the middle class. 45,000 Verizon workers went on strike against the company's corporate greed and forced the giant company to back off. Now they are at the bargaining table not just for themselves but to set an example for all of us, for our wages and benefits. We can help them by showing our support, and showing up to back them up. This is about us as much as it is about them and you can help support them.

If this sounds familiar it is because this is what all of us are facing now. This is a chance for all of us to take a stand against this destructive and unsustainable corporate greed that Verizon and other giant corporations -- and corporate funded politicians like Gov. Scott Walker in Wisconsin -- think is the way of the future.

How You Can Help

Join with Verizon's workers and with Jobs With Justice to help fight back:

Adopt a store! To adopt a store, report your activity (very important so the unions know what supporters are doing), and download this flyer go to: http://www.jwj.org/verizon
To locate a store near you, go to: http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/storelocator/index.jsp
Leaflet: Download the flyer, print it and hand it out.
To send a message of solidarity to the workers, go to: http://www.cwa-union.org/verizonsolidarity

Read this too: We Need To Get Active To Recover The Economy And Middle Class

Tell them what democracy looks like:

Get Active To Recover the Economy and Middle Class

Dave Johnson — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:43:28 -0400

They've got the money but we’ve got the numbers. The billionaires and the giant corporations are making a greed-grab for what's left of our standard of living, even our democracy. But history shows that We, the People can beat back this greed-grab of we get off our butts, get in the streets and make noise, and organize others to show up and vote.

Here are Wisconsin protesters chanting: "Tell me what democracy looks like. THIS is what democracy looks like!"

We Are All Under Attack

We are all under attack now, with the billionaires and big multi-national corporations going after our wages and benefits, and even reaching out into our communities to take or weaken our environmental protections, legal and regulatory protections, our public schools, our libraries, our parks, and the rest of the public structures we have built over the years. They are attacking our right to join together and fight back (collectively bargain) for good wages and benefits. They are even making it harder to vote.

The good news is that history shows when we band together we win. And if there ever was a time when we have to band together just to keep what we have – never mind working to have a better life – this is that time. So all of us need to get off our butts, get out there and start making noise, help each other, vote and register people to vote, get out and protest, get out and speak up at town hall meetings, get out and pass out flyers, get out and tell other people what is happening, get out and organize.

Verizon’s Workers Fought Back

These last few weeks Verizon's workers were asked to take big cuts, went on strike, thousands of volunteers showed up to help and walk picket lines with them, and the workers forced Verizon to back off. The courage of Verizon's workers and the help from all the volunteers played a critical role in getting Verizon to move. And this is a model for all of us who are up against the greed-grab by the billionaires and giant corporations.

Some background: Verizon is a giant company with over $100 billion revenue. Verizon gives out multi-billion dividends and pays top executives more than $50,000 a day. The company doesn't pay taxes. Does that sound like a familiar story these days? With all that money and power, Verizon wants workers to take cuts in everything -- over $1 billion in givebacks. The company is even asking its workers to give up disability pay when injured on the job!

So 45,000 of Verizon's workers went on strike -- in this economy. They risked everything to fight for working people to be able to keep their pay and benefits. Thousands of people joined them on the picket lines. They forced Verizon to back off the giveback demands and come back to the bargaining table.

Now they are at the negotiating table and they need our help to back them up. Right now you can "Send a Message of Solidarity." In coming days Verizon's workers will be organizing informational picket lines at Verizon stores, handing out leaflets and applying pressure to the company.

Now Its Your Turn

History shows that regular people can organize and fight back against the power of billionaires and huge corporations. But it takes work and we have to show up. Verizon tried to pull the corporate game on its workers – cutting pensions, health care, even disability pay for injured workers. The workers – joined by volunteers from all walks of life – forced the company to back down and come to the negotiating table.

Getting out there and getting involved is hard at first. We are all busy. We are all just trying to get by. Many of us are buried in our computers or iPads. Many of us are watching to see which orifice will spew blood next on House, or watching maggots come out of eyeballs on CSI. Society today more and more keeps us from interacting face-to-face with strangers. So it is hard to go out and get involved.

Then there is the shame factor. It has been drummed into us that only dirty hippies go out and protest. When you imagine joining a protest you see images of dirty, bearded outcasts with signs.

Getting Active Is Rewarding And Fun

But once you get out there, set up a register-to-vote table, anything, you find out that it is rewarding, even fun! You find out that along with the dirty hippies there are many people just like you, and just like everyone else, from all walks of life, who are getting out there and making their voices heard.

Just the other day I pointed out that A Summer Of People's Action Is Barely Reported But Building! "People are fed up and showing up, making their voices heard, taking action. You might not be seeing very much coverage in the "mainstream" (corporate) news outlets but his has been a summer of increasing action, all following up on the Wisconsin actions."

So What If Not Reported In Corporate Media?

In A Summer Of People's Action Is Barely Reported But Building! I wrote, "Maybe it isn't reported in the "major media," but so what? It is happening. Jobless people don’t buy stuff. The major media today is about selling stuff, not serving democracy by keeping the public informed. So they focus on things that interest people with money. The result is that major media is too busy telling us that "we" have to sacrifice (to pay for tax cuts for the rich), cut Social Security (to pay for tax cuts for big corporations) and those of us that still have jobs accept longer hours and pay cuts and bigger health insurance payments and ore outsourcing (to pay for bigger bonuses for top executives.)"

There is a lot going on. Right now the Rebuild The Dream Movement is working to get people organized and active. Visit the Don't Kill The Dream website, and learn about the Contract for the American Dream. (See my post on the Contract For The American Dream And The Emergency Jobs Bill)

If we're going to beat back the greed-grab we are going to have to get out there.

This Is What Democracy Looks Like

For those of us who can't get enough, here is 13 minutes of THIS is what democracy looks like!

Help Save The Middle Class by Joining Verizon Workers On Picket Lines

Dave Johnson — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:54:48 -0400

Verizon is the example today of what is happening to all of our jobs, benefits and standard of living. Verizon is extremely profitable, making billions and billions. Verizon's executives are very, very well paid. Some make $50,000 a day. And Verizon is demanding that its workers take $1 billion in pay and benefit cuts, and allow even more offshoring of even more jobs.

This is the same fight we are all in now. There is something you can do. You can join Verizon's workers on the picket lines. This is a fight for your standard of living, not just for theirs.

Here Are Things You Can Do:

Join a picket line at your local Verizon store. Click to learn how.

Click here to learn ways that you can support Verizon's workers.

Click here to Tell Verizon: Stop Attacking the Middle Class.

Join them! Click here for a map of local picket lines that you can join. I especially like this one: Adopt Verizon Wireless a store to picket and leaflet.

You can find more info here including signing up to receive updates.

“Like” them on Facebook.

Read strike coverage.

Verizon Strike: Join The Workers On The Picket Line

Dave Johnson — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:46:33 -0400

Do you want a path out of this recession? Then help the Verizon workers by joining a picket line at your local Verizon store. (Click to learn how.) Verizon has billions in profits. They pay their executives huge salaries. But they are asking their workers and even retirees to take cuts, so the workers are on strike. They just want what you want - a decent job with decent pay and maybe some benefits. So join them.

Path Out Of Recession

Larry Cohen, president of Communication Workers of America (CWA), said on a call today said, "If a company with profits like this, and paying their top executives more than $50,000 a day, can demand these kind of cuts from its workers, there literally will never be a path out of recession in this country."

Cohen also said,

"The collapse of the standard if living across the country, we need to convince people of the larger issues here. The economics lesson here ... the human rights issues here are enormous. We are attempting to picket every Verizon Wireless store in the country and this can be done by anyone carrying our sign. ...

Are people like us going to have any rights in this country, do we have any rights in this country, do we have anything to look forward to?"

Join Them

Last week I wrote, in Verizon's Workers Strike Back At Corporate Greed -- You Can Join Them!:

The reason you see so many cellphone stores and ads everywhere is because wireless is a very lucrative business. Wireless companies are pulling in billions and their executives are raking in the bucks. But they are also squeezing their workers, their customers and our government.

Right now Verizon is greedily trying to put the squeeze on its workers, cutting pensions, sick pay, health insurance, even disability for employees injured on the job. If this story sounds all too familiar, this part won't: Their workers are fighting back with a strike! And you can join them!

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.

The Is About You

This is about you because this is happening to everyone. These Verizon workers are putting everything on the line for you -- trying to do something about it. They going on strike to try to get your wages and pension and health care back, or keep those things from being taken away from you. Don't forget that when you hear the corporate propaganda from FOX News and the rest of the corporate media, telling you about "union thugs" and "union bosses." This is about you and if you are anywhere near a Verizon worker picket line you should go join them.

What You Can Do

Click here to learn ways that you can support the strike.

Easy: Click to Tell Verizon: Stop Attacking the Middle Class. From the petition:

Over the last four years, Verizon has made $19 billion in profits while paying its top five executives $250 million in compensation and bonuses .

With middle-class families already struggling, it's time for Verizon to share its success with the hardworking Americans who made it possible. This is not a time for corporate greed. It is time to do the right thing.

Verizon made dramatic concessionary demands to kick off bargaining and never moved. Now you are refusing to bargain with the CWA & the IBEW.

Socially: “Like” them on Facebook.

Techy: Download their iPhone app.

Read strike coverage.

Have Fun, Meet People, Join A Local Picket Line

Much more fun: Join them! Click here for a map of local picket lines that you can join. I especially like this one: Adopt Verizon Wireless a store to picket and leaflet.

You can find more info here including signing up to receive updates.

Verizon's Workers Strike Back At Corporate Greed -- You Can Join Them!

Dave Johnson — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:13:21 -0400

Consumed By Greed

The giant telecom company Verizon, currently raking in the billions ($6 billion in profits and a $10 billion dividend on $108 billion in revenue last year), while paying no taxes, is putting the squeeze on its workers, and they are fighting back. With all those profits, the company has been consumed by greed: Now Verizon is asking for $1 billion in concessions from its workers.

Kenneth Quinnell lays it out in Union Workers Stand Up to Extreme Demands from Verizon over at Crooks and Liars:

More than 40,000 workers -- members of the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers -- went on strike this week after Verizon refused to even begin to bargain fairly with the workers. The workers on strike include "telephone field technicians, call center workers and cable installers from Massachusetts to Virginia."

Verizon has canceled multiple bargaining sessions and refuses to back down from any of their original concession requests, something that flies in the face of the basic idea of negotiating. Workers say they are prepared to return to work as soon as management shows a willingness to sit down and work out a fair agreement.

How MUCH Greed?

Laura Clawson writes in, More than 45,000 Verizon workers strike, at Daily Kos Labor:

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.

Paying No Taxes?

Verizon, with $108 billion in revenue and huge profits, is not paying taxes. Citizens for Tax Justice, in Verizon Pushes for $1 Billion in Concessions from Workers, While Receiving Nearly $1 Billion in Subsidies from Uncle Sam, explains, (emphasis added below because I got mad when I read it.)

Despite earning over $32.5 billion over the last 3 years, Verizon not only paid nothing in corporate income taxes, it actually received nearly $1 billion (the same amount as the concessions they are seeking) in tax benefits from the federal government during that time.

... In fact, if Verizon paid its corporate income tax at the official rate of 35 percent, it would have owed more than $11 billion (rather than negative $1 billion). This alone is enough to avoid the recent cuts in the debt deal to student loan programs.

CTJ also points out that, "...the top 5 executives at Verizon received more than a quarter of a billion dollars in compensation over the last 4 years."

Just 5 people got more than a quarter billion. (CEO Lowell McAdam’s compensation works out to about $55,000 per day.) The company pays no taxes, which means the rest of us—an entire country—has to cut student loan programs, and on top of that they are trying to take disability pay away from workers who are injured while they work to make those executives even richer.

The Is About You

What You Can Do

Easy: sign a petition.

More fun: Click here to learn how you can support the strike. And you can join them! Click here for a map of local picket lines that you can join. I especially like this one: Adopt Verizon Wireless a store to picket and leaflet.

You can find more info here including signing up to receive updates.