CWA Petitions Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to Investigate, Fine Verizon for Appallingly Da

[Omaha Steve]

Source: NH Labor News

WASHINGTON- The Communications Workers of America (CWA) today filed a petition with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission calling on the PUC to open an investigation into unsafe conditions at Verizon locations throughout the state.

CWA, in the course of representing its almost 5,000 Verizon workers throughout Pennsylvania, examined Verizon’s equipment in areas of the state where Verizon has not built its new fiber network (or FiOS) and only offers service through traditional copper wiring. The investigation documented hundreds of dangerous locations that include poles designated for removal that are not stable (and in some cases broken), portions of old poles suspended in the air, terminals and other equipment not attached to poles, cables hanging dangerously low due to broken lashings that have not been replaced, plastic coverings and splice boxes placed over damaged cable and other equipment that pose a risk of insect and animal infestation and that are not properly grounded, damaged cabinets that pose a risk of insect and animal infestation, and similar conditions that pose a risk to CWA members and the public.

“Everyday, CWA members put themselves at risk climbing poles that can fall at any minute or fixing equipment that has become a home for rats and other dangerous infestations due to Verizon’s unwillingness to maintain its, equipment,” said CWA District 2-13 Vice President Ed Mooney. “Despite a billion dollars in profits every month, Verizon refuses to spend the money necessary to keep the public and its employees safe. Customers are paying every month for telephone service that’s reliable. They deserve better than this.”

AARP supports the call for an investigation of Verizon’s operations in Pennsylvania. We know that telephone service is a basic necessity, allowing older people to maintain social contact, preserve health and safety, and call for assistance in an emergency,” said Bill Johnston-Walsh, AARP Pennsylvania State Director. “Many consumers rely on their landline service during extreme weather or other emergencies. When the power goes out, they need to be able to communicate. AARP also encourages consumers to take advantage of advanced technologies. The Commission’s should use its investigation to ensure that Pennsylvania consumers enjoy the finest, affordable, universal, reliable and high quality telecommunications system in the nation.”

FULL story and more photos at link. NH Labor News is run by DUer Matt Murray.


Image courtesy of CWA

About NH Labor News
The New Hampshire Labor News is a group of NH Workers who believe that we need to protect ourselves against the attacks on workers. We are proud union members who are working to preserve the middle class. The NHLN talks mostly about news and politics from NH. We also talk about national issues that effect working men and women here in the Granite State.

Read more: http://nhlabornews.com/2015/10/cwa-petitions-pennsylvania-public-utility-commission-to-investigate-fine-verizon-for-appallingly-dangerous-conditions/

[mrdmk]

1. Was going to bitch about the quality of the article thinking it was a newspaper of sorts

sorry Steve

Instead it is a group of union workers reporting on the deplorable condition of rural telecommunications.

Then it was remembered that Verizon was for sale in the North East region.

Link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=367x8864


Do not know what became of the sale...

This was not the only matter that has been occurring in the North East region.

Link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141196396


Being a tech guy, people ask me what is a good cell phone provider. Well, I like mine, but it sure are not the following Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Each has a number of reasons why not, Verizon in this case is spoken for in the above material...


Thank you for all you do Steve


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[NHLabor]

3. After Fairpoint bought Verizon in New England

The unions negotiated a contract and the company was way over their heads in debt. Last year the Unions went on strike because fairpoint refused to negotiate with them. They eventually came to an agreement (a little higher healthcare costs, little less of that) and they ratified their new contract.

Both Verizon and Fairpoint have leveraged themselves too far and do not care about the quality of service or the infrastructure. They are both hedge fund style businesses where they are run by wall street more than anything else. They waste their profits on stock buyback programs while workers and infrastructure suffer (CEOs get monstrous pay outs).

I hope the unions hold strong, verizon should be paying them better and fixing these infrastructure issue because they make 1 billion in profits a month and can afford to do both.

[Gman]

2. Verizon is trying to sell off its copper POTS line business

They aren't going to do a thing. Paying fines is much cheaper than rehabbing old plant.

[Nac Mac Feegle]

4. Almost 40 years with a Very Large Telephone Company here;

That sort of negligence is figuratively, if not literally, criminal. A lot of people seem to only have wireless phones (cell phones) but there are even more that still rely on the copper. If anyone ever has a problem reaching 911 due to the plant, the lawsuits will be very expensive, indeed.