WASHINGTON-Verizon Communications Chairman Ivan Seidenberg reacted angrily to a letter signed by 123 congressmen asking him to investigate allegations of union-busting activities at Verizon Wireless.
“I am dismayed that you authored a letter for public consumption which contains false statements about our company and our employees, and that you did not make any attempt to meet with me or other company officials to determine the accuracy of the charges before asking your colleagues to put their name behind this misguided effort,” said Seidenberg in a response to Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.).
Miller, lead signatory on the congressional letter, is ranking minority member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and a primary sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act. The April 11 congressional letter was reprinted Tuesday in a full-page ad in The Washington Postpaid for by the Communications Workers of America.
“We are troubled by what appears to be a corporate-sponsored policy of union avoidance at Verizon Wireless,” House Democrats said. “We understand that the company has been the subject of several National Labor Relations Board complaints over activities meant to thwart employee organizing efforts, with additional charges of unfair labor practices currently under investigation.”
The lawmakers pointed to unionization at wireless competitor Cingular Wireless L.L.C., the largest mobile phone operator and employer of 22,000 workers with CWA representation. About 50 Verizon Wireless workers are unionized.
“The fact that no Verizon Wireless employee group decided to unionize does not imply, as the CWA suggests, that the company thwarted unionization,” said Seidenberg. “Instead, we believe it signifies that Verizon Wireless is a great employer, and its employees are happy with their relationship with the company. We respect the decision of these employees, and I hope that you and the CWA also respect them and their decision.”
