Verizon is distributing an in-house app to the company's
non-union employees in the hopes of catching union employees engaging in bad
behavior. Verizon and the Communications Workers of America (CWA) are currently
negotiating a new labor contract, but the talks haven't been going well and the union has
authorized a strike if a new deal can't be reached.
Verizon's currently training around 15,000 potential
non-union replacements should the company not be able to reach a deal with the
CWA, which includes around 38,000 Verizon workers. Presumably these 15,000
workers are all being asked to track and document any union shenanigans.
Verizon denies that the app is about intimidating union workers or finding new creative ways to reduce union worker rolls. Striking workers have been known to occasionally sabotage equipment, so Verizon says it's just looking out for its infrastructure.
“The app serves three primary purposes: the first is a means for our management employees to report or document an unsafe situation, unlawful act, or violation of our code of conduct, and it will also be used by managers who have been assigned to these union positions for the duration of the strike to ask questions about installations or repairs they are handling," Verizon says about the app. "It also provides a means for our employees to submit suggestions on process improvements.”
"Verizon should stop focusing on clever new ways to fire people and start focusing on bargaining in good faith towards a contract that protects workers’ job security and standard of living, and ensures that every customer is getting the highest quality service," the CWA said in a statement in response to the app. "The company’s petty attempts to intimidate workers do not bring us any closer to a fair collective bargaining agreement."
The CWA and IBEW holding a rally in New York City tomorrow. The labor contract with Verizon expires on August first.
Update: One commenter directs us to Verizon's employee code of conduct manual (pdf) which effectively states this:
quote:
1.8.2 Use of Recording Devices
In many jurisdictions, use of recording devices without the consent of both parties is unlawful. Unless you are participating in an approved observation program or you have obtained prior approval from Security or the Legal Department, you may not record, photograph, or videotape another employee while the employee is at work or engaged in business activities or access another employee's systems, records or equipment without that employee's knowledge and approval. In addition, unless you receive prior approval from the Legal Department, you may never record, photograph or videotape any customer, business provider or competitor without that person's knowledge and approval."
In many jurisdictions, use of recording devices without the consent of both parties is unlawful. Unless you are participating in an approved observation program or you have obtained prior approval from Security or the Legal Department, you may not record, photograph, or videotape another employee while the employee is at work or engaged in business activities or access another employee's systems, records or equipment without that employee's knowledge and approval. In addition, unless you receive prior approval from the Legal Department, you may never record, photograph or videotape any customer, business provider or competitor without that person's knowledge and approval."
So, in essence, non-unionized employees can record
unionized labor as part of an "approved observation program," but
unionized labor wouldn't appear to have the same right.
Source: DSL
Reports
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