‘At least’ 24 instances of damage to network infrastructure as Verizon strike continues in Northeast, mid-Atlantic
After starting April 13, a Verizon Communications strike involving around 36,000 union employees shows no signs of slowing; meanwhile, Verizon is offering rewards for numerous instances of apparent intentional damage to network infrastructure.
Wireless and wireline employees represented by the Communication Workers of America and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers walked out more than two weeks ago forcing Verizon to reassign management employees to cover myriad job functions. The striking workers charge Verizon with offshoring good jobs, demanding unreasonable travel schedules, ignoring wireline assets and more while the company continues to make significant profits.
According to Verizon, there were “at least” 24 incidents in the past six weeks with damage coming in New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Verizon detailed a sliced fiber optic cable at a network facility in New Jersey “that cut services to customers and local emergency personnel;” damage in Massachusetts that caused a 16-hour outage; and cut fiber and copper cables in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York that disrupted both voice and Internet services.
“We will find out who’s behind these highly dangerous criminal acts and we will pursue criminal charges,” said Michael Mason, Verizon’s chief security officer. “These reckless perpetrators are risking the lives of countless Americans by cutting access to key lines of communications, especially to local police, fire and rescue personnel. If someone has an emergency and needs to contact local authorities, these malicious actions could prevent that from happening.”
Verizon is offering a reward of up to $10,000 “for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of individuals who intentionally damage Verizon cables or facilities.”
In response to the incidents, CWA District 1 Vice President Dennis Trainor and District 2-12 VP Edward Mooney issued the following statement: “Regulators in three states are already investigating Verizon for its refusal to keep up with network maintenance and wear and tear – the root of many ongoing service problems. Even with many technicians regularly working overtime hours, the demand is still too high for the current workers to cover. Additional delays that customers are experiencing because of the strike are a result of Verizon executives’ insistence on offshoring and outsourcing jobs and their refusal to invest in adequately maintaining lines.
“Striking Verizon workers want their customers to have the best service, but that’s not possible when the company is breaking promises on FiOS and refusing to bargain in good faith with the tens of thousands of workers who make the company more than $1 billion in profits every month. Sadly, Verizon executives want to blame problems on the men and women who are building the company’s massive profits, but the fact remains that it is Verizon executives who are shortchanging customers and workers alike.“
