SubscribeVerizon’s ongoing effort to shed itself of legacy phone operations in smaller communities and states has triggered a wave of worker retirements, contributing to worker shortages in some regions. In West Virginia in particular, Verizon’s plan to exit the entire state, leaving service in the hands of Frontier Communications, has many employees deciding the time to get out is now. In August, Verizon was forced to bring in outside contractors to deal with repair work created by a storm-filled summer. The decision met with strong opposition from the local Communications Workers of America Local 2001 union, which represents the remaining Verizon employees.
Verizon itself has been cost-cutting, and shed 7% of the workforce providing upkeep for the traditional phone network in just the past two years. Many other employees are taking early retirement offers, or simply deciding to retire with their Verizon pension intact.
After the CWA Local 2001 unit ran an informational picket, the outside contractors were gone by September 19th. The CWA has been negotiating with Verizon to create a Working Retiree program to provide staff support during difficult periods like those created from storm damage.
The CWA continues its strong opposition to Verizon exiting several states, selling its network to Frontier Communications. The union believes the transaction will saddle those communities with a lower quality telecommunications future from a provider mired in the debt required to finance the transaction.
[flv width=”320″ height=”240″]http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/WCHS Charleston CWA Protests Verizon Contractors 8-31-09.flv[/flv]
WCHS-TV in Charleston, West Virginia covered the CWA informational picketing in late August. [1 minute]
I wonder if Verizon’s decision to leave West Virginia could be in part because it is time consuming and expensive to deal with Union demands? The consumer will get screwed in the end, but how can Verizon be forced to stay in a business they rather just sell off?
If the deal does not get approval, Verizon will remain the incumbent telco. The union demands, in this case, aren’t really onerous, considering Verizon itself made the decision to reduce employment on their traditional phone line business. When they have a worker shortage, they try and import contract workers who live outside of the area and have no experience with the character and condition of the local phone network. Here in Rochester, back when this area had Rochester Telephone, an independent phone company around for more than 100 years, we paid less for phone service than in either Buffalo or… Read more »
I gave up on our local phone company 8 years ago when they refused to install a new line after 5pm or on weekends. Time Warner will install new service after 5pm or on Weekends. So will Directv. I switched to %100 cell service and couldn’t be happier.
As technology improves and changes I wonder what these regional old phone companies are going to do? Many of them don’t offer cell service and their internet offerings are often slow DSL connections.
In Central Illinois, Verizon responsible for city street construction delays in 2 different cities. Don’t know cause, but suspect something like your story above. Washington’s project is still not done, as of October 15 2009. 1) Washington, Illinois had a 7 week street construction delay. From July 21 2009, Washington (IL) TImes-Reporter http://www.washingtontimesreporter.com/news/x135763195/North-Cummings-Lane-construction-to-resume-next-week Quotes pulled from article , include quotes from City Engineer Ken Newman. “Construction on North Cummings Lane is seven weeks behind, and traffic will be rerouted beginning Monday in an effort to expedite the project. Work on the roadway has been suspended since June 1 due to… Read more »