Politics

‘Open Season’: Union Removes Controversial Message Calling for ‘Torture’ of Verizon Managers

Verizon Union Removes Controversial Message Calling for Torture of ManagersUnions representing Verizon workers have appeared to upped the ante on what was already been a heated dispute between labor and management.

Forty-five thousand Verizon workers from Massachusetts to Virginia went on strike earlier this month after the contract for the company’s wireline division ended August 6. Workers are in protest to management asking for changes in the contract to strengthen the wireline business which has been in decline for more than a decade. Now some think one Brooklyn CWA post has possibly crossed the line calling for, among other things, torture:

“The voice of a representative encourages members to deal harshly with ‘managers and scabs.’

‘It is open season. Follow them safely, but when you get to a location, torture them, torture them with chants and noise. Be so loud that they can’t concentrate and wish they never got out of bed,’ says the recorded voice. Another part of the message states:

‘They are trying to break our union. Understand brothers and sisters, we can never let these [expletive] piece of [expletive] pigs break us. So, we are stepping up our efforts.’

The message stopped short of calling for physical violence, but it was removed after a NewsChannel 9 reporter called the CWA for comment. “


A spokesman for Verizon has said that although the behavior of a few striking workers was less than “peaceful,”the company doesn’t believe extreme behavior is something endemic to the striking employees.

When questioned by WSYR in regards to the controversial rallying cry, CWA Political Director Bob Master responded:

“Strikes are difficult. Strikes are tense. But, there is nothing wrong or undemocratic or un-American about militancy. It’s part of our tradition. We don’t want anyone to violate the law, but people have made sacrifices and we need to fight for what we believe in.”

Militancy as part of our tradition? Do you think that comes off any better?

Comments (157)

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  • NuffSaid
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 9:04pm

    I don’t expect the Union to back down. Bring it on, ignorant racist thugs and punks. Send the working man out into the street, tanked up, to do the bidding of the commies than run Unions.

    Report Post »  
  • ares338
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 9:03pm

    Unionism, socialism and communism are one and the same! I despise all three entities.

    Report Post » ares338  
    • Salamander
      Posted on August 16, 2011 at 9:42pm

      Verizon has already responded to the real world by setting up a separate Verizon Wireless entity! Can’t the union see the handwriting on the wall! Rather than become an anachronism, they should joint the 21st Century! There is a place for wired communications. And there are jobs in wireless! If the union was smart, it would get out of the ‘how you should manage your business’ business and stick with benefits, training, job placement, counseling and other things the company might neglect that would be of benefit to its members. But, to demand that management go back to the 19th Century, so they can keep their overpaid jobs? Are they NUTS????

      Report Post »  
    • willnotbackdown
      Posted on August 16, 2011 at 9:53pm

      I agree with you, but I long for the day when we had a sane enemy that wanted to live the Islame o’s are nutburgers and I think a hell of a lot more dangerous.

      Report Post »  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 9:03pm

    Unions are communist. There is no need for unions in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

    Kick them all out. Deflate their balloon heads. Let them come back to reality, if any of them these days has ever seen reality.

    NO MORE UNIONS. Not here! NOT IN THE USA!

    Report Post »  
    • NHwinter
      Posted on August 16, 2011 at 9:24pm

      Unions seem to be made up of selfish, violent thugs. And they call the Tea Party all kinds of names. Really makes you laugh at the hypocricy.

      Report Post » NHwinter  
    • GoodnCool
      Posted on August 16, 2011 at 10:37pm

      Amen to that, their day came and went along time ago. Now, many of the members are trapped, their money is taken from them and spent on things or people that they do not support. NoUnions Nobama in the Future.

      Report Post »  
    • capitalismrocks
      Posted on August 16, 2011 at 10:37pm

      OSHA laws and Labor Laws made the Unions obsolete years ago, all they are now are wage whores and benefit leeches….

      They call people who keep a company’s livelihood flowing a scab??? Scabs are what clog up blood flow, and keep an entity from bleeding out and dying… seems scab’s are keeping Verizon alive from all of the bleeding caused by the killing of it by union selfishness….

      The private sector is hurting, private sector workers are taking pay cuts, pay freezes, hour cuts… the unions have to do it too… they have to pay their “fair share” as the left keep saying, so pay up! Pay into your own benefits and healthcare:

      http://newscenter.verizon.com/2011-bargaining/

      Its all right there, there is not “union busting” or anything that it out of the norm to be asked of non-working workers…. heck my wife and I have to match her plans dollar for dollar, these unions are being asked for a small amount from an already overpaid salary level as it is, so its not much at all to ask.

      Also… if their jobs are so important, so vital, to need to be paid so much and have such lavish benefit packages, why is it, the company is able to bring in replacements and keep going…. seems to me, these CWA workers are expendable and should all be given a “return to work, here are the terms of how much you’ll need to put into your health and pension otherwise, we‘re hiring all of the temp private sector workers as permanent employee’s, don’t let the door hit you

      Report Post » capitalismrocks  
    • MHP
      Posted on August 17, 2011 at 2:11am

      hey granny

      When these union thugs start shooting people, which they did tonight, then we all have to arm ourselves.

      Report Post » MHP  
  • bankerpapaw
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 9:00pm

    Yeah, I noticed the red too. The only things missing are the hammer and sickle.

    Report Post »  
  • eat-more-bacon-USA
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 9:00pm

    Enemy-obama’s foot soldiers are on the march …

    Report Post » eat-more-bacon-USA  
  • USA1Patriot
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:59pm

    Vote American – Get rid of ALL Unions, communists all

    Report Post » USA1Patriot  
  • concealled9mms
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:57pm

    wow where is cnbc and msnbc they made a big deal about perry saying bernacke is treasonous and here the union wants violence and nothing is said . wow the repubs are getting so much ammo againist all these fools and they keep driving the educated away from the the democrap party, far left freaks keep it up fools .

    Report Post »  
    • pwatkins
      Posted on August 17, 2011 at 12:49am

      You are right and Perry said (almost) treasonous, but of course it didn’t get repoerted that way. I BTW agreed with Perry.

      Report Post »  
  • NOBALONEY
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:56pm

    Plenty of RED!!

    Report Post » NOBALONEY  
  • mike_trivisonno
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:55pm

    Communists.

    Report Post » mike_trivisonno  
  • farmerdel
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:53pm

    Unions are domestic economic terrorists. Live Better…kick the crap out of a union member.

    Report Post »  
  • momprayn
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:52pm

    I think the success in Wisconsin was a good sign and a good start…the beginning of the end.

    Report Post »  
    • tower7femacamp
      Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:57pm

      Your Right to Work Rights – In Three Minutes
      [En español]

      1. No employee in the United States can legally be required to be a full-dues-paying, formal union member. But in many states, an employee can be forced to pay certain union dues or be fired from his or her job.
      2. Union members have the right to resign from formal membership at any time. However, dues deduction authorizations may limit when they can be revoked.
      3. Employees covered by state Right to Work laws can not lawfully be required to pay any union fees to keep their jobs. But state Right to Work laws do not protect railway and airline employees and employees of private-sector contractors on some federal properties.
      4. Because they enjoy the special privilege of exclusive representation, unions have a legal duty to represent fairly all employees in their bargaining units. Unions are legally required to represent nonmember employees the same as members, but unfortunately this duty is often breached.
      5. If a law or bargaining agreement permits it, employees can be forced to pay certain union fees. If you don’t join the union, or resign from membership, and notify the union that you don’t want to pay full dues, the required fee must be limited to the union’s proven costs of collective bargaining activities. This fee may not lawfully include things like political expenses.
      6. Nonmembers with religious objections to supporting a union have the right to ask the union to redirect th

      Report Post » tower7femacamp  
    • tower7femacamp
      Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:59pm

      # the union to redirect the forced dues amount to charity. Religious objectors do not have to belong to a specific church to claim this right.
      # A union member who wants to work during a strike should resign from union membership BEFORE going to work. If the resignation is mailed, the employee should not work until the day after the resignation is postmarked. Otherwise, the employee could be fined by the union. If you are already a nonmember, you can work at will during a strike and not be lawfully fined.
      # Many employees have a legal right to petition for an election to oust an unwanted union from their workplace or to eliminate the union’s ability to collect forced fees. You should contact us if you want to do this.
      # Your best source for information about your Right to Work rights is this web site. Foundation attorneys have represented many employees like you, and have taken several cases all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to protect workers’ rights.
      # If, after reviewing the information available through the links below, you are still unclear about your rights, or believe that you need legal aid because union officials have violated these rights (as they frequently do), call us at 800-336-3600 or send us an e-mail here.

      Report Post » tower7femacamp  
  • Texas Hills Patriot
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:52pm

    It’s a little like telling the jury to disregard what they just heard. The message was sent and received. Thugs, one and all. But then we have a thug administration, so it all ties together, doesn’t it?

    Report Post » Texas Hills Patriot  
  • 101
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:50pm

    Fire them all…replace them with non-union workers

    Report Post »  
  • MODEL82A1
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:50pm

    The idea that businesses (or “Corporations” (one of which I own)) exist to employ people, much less to employ them at union compensation levels, is more vulgar than anything else I can imagine. And I have a vivid imagination.

    Report Post » MODEL82A1  
    • MHP
      Posted on August 17, 2011 at 2:57am

      So why do you want to force other companies to pay union benefits and wages?

      Companies exist to make a profit.

      If they make a good profit, then it’s great to hire employees to expand those profits.
      But no company who doesn’t offer a good product to the customer and public, cannot make a profit, period.
      One should do like I do, go to a vocational school, get the certificate, then start your own business.
      Trump and Limbaugh have it right. Business owners pay themselves first, then the rest of the bills in order.
      The only way one can become rich (if you are able to do it) is to work for yourself.
      You won’t do it working for anybody else.

      Report Post » MHP  
  • tower7femacamp
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:49pm

    here is the harassment that I believe is a code of conduct violation
    http://cwa2202.org/

    Report Post » tower7femacamp  
  • whatthecrazy
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:47pm

    Was in a union but now im free

    Report Post »  
  • KickinBack
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:47pm

    Tell a small child “No” and they pout and cry, but will eventually shut up.

    Report Post » KickinBack  
    • Gold Coin & Economic News
      Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:53pm

      Oh now what’s the problem here, Verizon union thugs just threatened their managers with torture, at least they didn’t call them treasonous.

      Report Post » Gold Coin & Economic News  
  • spirited
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:45pm

    @Randy
    Remember: Your comment may take a few minutes to appear on the site. ;^o

    Report Post » spirited  
  • dontbotherme
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:44pm

    So… The union thugs want to behave as they did in Madison, WI. They may have “removed the message” but I bet the tactics will remain. I wish this would be highly publicized. Let the world see who these gangsters are & what they do to get their way.

    Report Post »  
  • spirited
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:43pm

    Great, it’s a call for a Union-Spring.

    >More community organizing –ehh?

    Report Post » spirited  
  • chershaw8
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:42pm

    Aren’t they just lovely!!!!???

    Report Post »  
  • TRONINTHEMORNING
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:41pm

    What an annoying bunch of followers of stupidity. Their lives must be miserable; and that would be their fault not ours.

    Report Post »  
  • randy
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:40pm

    Gee Blaze. You censoring my comments?
    Let’s try again.

    Unions = Terrorists

    Report Post » randy  
  • football lady
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:39pm

    What’s the surprise here? This is the kind of people they are. I almost switched to Verizon a few weeks ago but not now and it’s because of the greedy union.

    Report Post »  
    • JustJ
      Posted on August 16, 2011 at 10:36pm

      Everyone, please keep in mind that Verizon and Verizon Wireless are two different entities. Don’t let this affect your your decision or thoughts of Verizon Wireless. I work for them, and we are NOT union… and never will be if we can help it.

      Report Post »  
    • DYNA
      Posted on August 17, 2011 at 12:04am

      @JUSTJ,
      Thank you for the clarification.

      Report Post »  
    • oneshiner
      Posted on August 17, 2011 at 11:30pm

      Thanks for the heads up. I really didn’t want to get rid of my Verizon cell service, but I definitely would
      have done it, if the company caved in and played dead for the Unions. From my experience and limited knowledge, I hate what Unions stand for and how thugish they always act. Like some Union thug shot a non union man after scratching his car. I won’t tolerate dealing with these type people.
      Hate our schools & teachers being union, gives them all the power to be bad teachers, which has been proven with bad test scores in America (except charter & home schooling)
      And I still l have a bad image of the cruel & hateful teachers making a$$es of themselves in Wis.
      Wouldn’t want these types teaching or being near my children. Where are you Christians?

      Report Post »  
  • tower7femacamp
    Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:38pm

    many of these striking workers who violate the verizon code of conduct
    will be fired

    Report Post » tower7femacamp  
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