Are Verizon workers out of line for striking during the highest unemployment era since the Great Depression? (Congress, salaries)

[goldenchild08]

45,000 Verizon union employees went on strike all across the East Coast earlier this month. They have been on strike for about two weeks until this point. They are striking because Verizon is no longer giving them free healthcare. One of my friends is one of the Verizon union employees in Maryland on strike. He has no college education and has told me, himself, that he doesn't do much at work but surf the net all day. He has also told me that he has taken the company van on personal shopping trips to places two hours away. I know all Verzion union employees can't be this lazy. Many of the striking Verzion union workers do not have any specialized education and get paid anywhere from 60-90K a year plus benefits. It is outrageous to see pictures of so many overpaid people looking so mad when you google "Verizon Strike". If they are mad, I don't want to know what it's going to look like when the government can no longer afford paying millions of people unemployment benefits. Over a million people lost their homes last year and you are bitching about paying for healthcare with a salary of over 60K at a job where you can't be fired?! These people should be glad they have jobs. These workers can be easily replaced. There are literally millions of intelligent, educated and capable unemployed people in this country who would work for a fraction of current Verizon salaries and gladly pay for their own healthcare premiums. On top of that the strike has turned to vandalism and destruction of property in many places with strikers sabotaging phone-lines and such. Are unions doing the right thing? Or are they pricing out spoiled out-of-touch deadweight American workers who are very easily replaceable at this point?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/bu...cusations.html

[HurricaneDC]

i'm pretty sure that when I worked at Whole Foods we had to pay a bit for the healthcare plan (I wouldn't know as I'm still on my dad's plan). You're telling me these guys who are definitely paid more than $10/hr can't foot a small bill?

Fire 'em all I say.

[Dockside]

Let 'em strike. There are a lot of people looking for work out there.

[marcopolo]

45,000 people who want to be paid more than they are worth. This kind of scam has a history of blowing up.

[mwruckman]

Americans don't have to check their rights at the door when times are bad. The people who are out of line are the outsourcing, job killing, anti-American slugs running Verizon.

[doc1]

They have every right to strike and the consumer has every right to take their business to the competition.

Fair and balanced.

[burdell]

Originally Posted by marcopolo

45,000 people who want to be paid more than they are worth. This kind of scam has a history of blowing up.

This kind of scam hasn't affected Congress yet, has it?

[edwardianlady]

I say fire all of them .I would be more than happy to have their jobs.

[AeroGuyDC]

Liberals are selfish people. And you bet that a large majority of that "union" bunch are liberals. So I have to say i'm not surprised to seem them on the picket line.

I support their right to strike, and I support Verizon firing every last one of them.

[pvande55]

Believe it or not, last year IL construction workers, during "one of the worst work shortages since the invention of the shovel," went on strike and actually got a raise greater than inflation. Will Verizon's management be as generous? Unlikely.