Don’t help the company kill our bill that will protect workers and consumers if Verizon sells its network or merges with another company.
Instead, call to support the bill!
Verizon just sent out an e-mail to every employee warning that CWA’s bill in Albany to strengthen consumer and worker protections in the event of a telecom merger or line sale will “kill jobs” and “stop the FiOS build.”
Surprise, surprise. They’re lying. Creager’s message can mean only one thing: they want to sell in New York. Our bill would prevent New York workers and consumers from suffering what New England went through after Verizon sold its network in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine to tiny FairPoint in 2008. Fifteen months after the sale, Fairpoint went bankrupt, thousands of customers experienced major service quality problems, and workers face severe cuts in future bargaining because Fairpoint is a small company loaded up with debt.
Verizon tried to sell Upstate in 2005 – and they are selling 14 states to Frontier right now. A sale of telephone access lines endangers our jobs and undermines good service, including through a bankruptcy that prevents new infrastructure investment.
S.7263/A.2208, the “merger and line sale bill” (“S” is the Senate bill # and “A” is the Assembly), passed the Assembly on July 1st 103-34, and could come to the Senate floor for a vote any day. Day after day, Verizon has had over a dozen high-priced lobbyists in Albany working furiously against it. If they’re working so hard against it, you know it must be a good thing!
The bill requires the PSC to meet strengthened standards for worker and consumer protection if Verizon or Rochester Tel sell their lines or merge. Contrary to Verizon’s claims, if a sale occurs, this bill would help ensure infrastructure investment such as the fiber build. Instead of padding corporate profits, this bill helps protect our jobs and our customers.
PROTECT OUR JOBS! Call 518-455-2800 Right Now. Urge Your State Senator to Vote for S.7263 to protect workers and consumers.