I feel bad for any worker that has to fight for their right to be treated with fairness (union and non union). I would not single out Verizon, these issues are endemic to capitalistic system which could work marvel if fair ethics and sound moral values would, for once, be apply to balance unfairness and greed that always reign supreme.
To those complaining about outsourcing... it's an issue that should be brought up at political levels. Limiting outsourcing to a fair percentage rather than export all jobs out of a country (applies to all countries not just US!)
Let's bring this to the extreme consequences and for a second let's think that 90% of jobs are brought outside of the country in this case US... who would remain employed? Just the CEOs, CFOs, VPs and all upper management (most of the remaining 10%) of megacorps who's workers are now all in foreigh countries... at that point why would they want to remain in a country that if it's not already gone crazy and unlivable would already have daily riots for survival? And if that's the plan why even bother having a company within US?
Of course the issue of outsourcing is far more complex, but often an oversemplification may help get a better overview... we should not blame a Company, a class, the workers or the unions. It's policies that can make or break an economy and therefore a country stability and overall "health".
After the great depression of 1929 what helped keep the country together were, amongst other things, the introduction of new policies and regulations (like the SEC) to help prevent repeating that something like the 1929 crash, would never be repeated. And that's just to mention one case in just one area of policy making.
And just preemptively I would like to respond to those like user aaronc0027 above may wish to dictate "commenting conduct" starting to call for "remaining on topic". To paraphrase a great guitar player: "write your own bloody online magazine!"
It's a free country pal!
Or still one where one can say to be free, whether that's true or not today is rather debatable though that's a different issue, sorry I guess I wanted to stress the fact that anyone who feels like straying from a topic is definitely entitled to do so as much as you are entitled to stop reading this post if that's what you want to do LOL!. You can disagree with me, others and express your point of views (the more the merrier) but calling for "order" and "staying on topic" shows an underlaying bigotry which I hope it's not really there for your own good
Now back to the topic here
I do agree with some of your points, but you seem to have an axe to grind with unions... I really don't and perhaps that's why I may be able to see them for what they are when put in a proper historical and social context. I think they have some times done good, some other times have done not-so-good, and other times again have done real bad decisions. Blaming them or praising them eternally without giving to Caesar what's to Caesar belongs (both good and bad), serves no purpose other than personal agendas.
That said if people will eventually "stop bickering and arguing about who killed who" perhaps they will take those tree trunks from their eyeballs and realize where the forest is ;D
About Fios:
I have been chasing Fios since about 2003 when living in NYC and guess what no service at my old place still 8 years later... I moved in Brooklyn in a rather so-called gentrified area and, guess what? Same story there. I know for a fact that VZ field workers laid and spliced fiber optic cables about 3 years ago right at the corner of our building...they told me so themselves one night when I was coming back late from work and saw the VZ truck working few yards away from our building entrance... I asked "am I being too hopeful that's fiber optics you are working on?" and they told me "Yes, we're splicing them right now", so... in for a penny, in for a pound and I asked well it took you some time! Why so long and when will the service be available? Reply was "Well, until now installing in buildings was a PITA, so we started with single family homes in the burbs but recently some guy figured out how to install fibers faster in building so that's why we are starting to hit these areas... As for service, we just put the cable in when it's scheduled to do so in an area, but we really don't know when service will be available that depends from the big wigs up there".
This was a little over 3 years ago and I continue to see ads everywhere asking to call to get Fios... is that a joke of very dubious taste? They are really worst than a cxxx-teaser LOL! VZ workers can take the main Fiberoptic cable and shove it up the planning and management teams bums for all I care... 8 years? Really!? Enough is enough. At this point I just won't get Fios even when and if available since today is not even competitive anymore on price point or speed when compared to DOCSIS 3.0 from cable 50/5 for internet connection.
Since I have 0 interest in paying to get a bundle with garbage-laden TV service (want something like that? Go watch hulu and the likes since they have even less commercials than TV and similar programming) and I am definitely not looking to get the overpriced VOIP service, the only thing remaining that might be faintly appear somewhat attractive could be a slightly faster upload speed since that's the only area where cable ISP under-delivers... but it would not be worth the switch still.
The cable ISP got me by the family jewels since service works much like the mafia as it's set in geographical areas areas where hegemony is split between this or that cable "family" obliterating de-fact any possibility for competition and open market. That originally was one of the motivators that started to make me wish cutting off that cable and go DSL... but once you go cable you'll never be able! ;P DSL is the cho-cho train in the world of hi-speed and to honor the truth Cable although set as a despotic manner with no alternatives and it's definitely not cheap at $100/mo o_O They have been delivering consistent speed with only minor issues here and there.
Therefore while I'd love a bigger upload "pipe" which would be great for work (but virtually wasted for entertainment) I really couldn't care less for VZ-Fios and the next time I will hear "Fios" I will only reply: "Whatever!" which will make for a much shorter comment compared to this one! ;P
Cheers!
The telecom giant said Sunday that talks with unions—the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers—representing its wireline employees in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states broke down and workers went on strike. Verizon added that it has contingency plans in place.
