8/16/2019 Assemblyman Matthew Titone's Letter
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ALBANY OFFICE: Room 643, Legislative Office Building,
Albany, New York, 12248 ● 518-455-4677. FAX 518-455-5946DISTRICT
OFFICE: 853 Forest Avenue, Staten Island, New York 10310 ●
718-442-9932, FAX 718-442-9942
E-mail: [email protected]
MATTHEW J. TITONE Assemblyman 61
st District
Richmond County
CHAIROffice of State-Federal Relations
THE ASSEMBLY
STATE OF NEW YORK
ALBANY
COMMITTEES
Environmental Conservation
Education
Health
Judiciary
Social Services
Tourism, Parks Arts andSports Development
SUBCOMMITTEESOversight of the Department ofEnvironmental
Conservation
Trusts & Estates
April 28, 2016
Lowell McAdamChief Executive OfficeVerizon CommunicationsOne
Verizon WayBasking Ridge, NJ 07920
Dear CEO McAdam:
I am deeply concerned about the ongoing Verizon strike and the
company’s treatmentof workers, customers and taxpayers. Millions of
Americans rely on Verizon forcommunications services — and they
need you to work together with your employees to provide
quality service, not fight with them in needlessly contentious
negotiations.
From what I understand, the company’s proposals would undermine
the protection ofgood jobs in the communities I represent and
reduce the standard of living of thousands ofmiddle-class Verizon
employees who live up and down the East Coast. Your proposals
would
increase the likelihood that good jobs will be offshored to the
Philippines, Mexico and otherlocations overseas; outsourced to
low-wage, non-union domestic contractors; and allow thecompany to
forcibly transfer technicians far from their families for up to two
months at atime. I am also deeply disappointed that Verizon is
still refusing, after two years, to negotiateimprovements in wage,
benefit and working conditions for wireless workers who joined
theunion back in 2014.
While I am well aware of the changes that have taken place in
the telecommunicationsindustry, I know that Verizon workers are
building, installing and maintaining the state-of-the-art FiOS
system, as well as attempting to ensure that millions of customers
still reliant onthe copper network continue to receive high quality
service. Verizon Wireless retail store
workers and technicians work in one of the most profitable
sectors of the economy. Alldeserve to share in the company’s
success.
Recent reports show that your landline business is solidly
profitable, and thatcustomers are clamoring for Verizon’s FiOS
broadband service. Unfortunately, Verizon hasfailed to meet its
commitments to complete the FiOS buildout on a timely basis in New
YorkCity, Philadelphia and many other markets in its East Coast
footprint. And while we areheartened by the announcement of plans
to build FiOS in Boston, many, many communities
8/16/2019 Assemblyman Matthew Titone's Letter
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ALBANY OFFICE: Room 643, Legislative Office Building,
Albany, New York, 12248 ● 518-455-4677. FAX 518-455-5946DISTRICT
OFFICE: 853 Forest Avenue, Staten Island, New York 10310 ●
718-442-9932, FAX 718-442-9942
E-mail: [email protected]
from Virginia to Western Massachusetts have been left behind. At
a time when high-speedInternet access is ever more important to my
constituents’ personal and professional success,Verizon is leaving
millions on the wrong side of the digital divide. I would hope you
arecommitted to hiring and retaining the skilled staff necessary to
complete the FiOS buildout.And yet I have learned that Verizon’s
highly skilled union workforce has declined by nearly40 percent
over the last decade and that your proposed changes in the new
contract couldcontinue that downward spiral. This concerns me
greatly.
Verizon is an enormously profitable company, having made $39
billion in profits overthe last three years. What our country needs
is for a profitable corporation like Verizon to doits part in
respecting the families who make it successful. The first step is
to settle a faircontract with your workers. Families in my district
and across the country need successfulcorporations like Verizon to
be as mindful of your treatment of their families as you are ofyour
bottom-line. In the case of Verizon workers, it’s clear that you
can do both.
Rather than encouraging a “race to the bottom” that sends
much-needed jobs overseasand undermines the pay that working
families need, I strongly urge you to reconsider
your bargaining position and work directly with the union
negotiating teams to achieve areasonable bargaining agreement that
protects middle class jobs and ensures continued highquality
service to the public.
Thank you for your time and consideration to this important
matter. If I can providefurther information or be of any
assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my district officeat
(718) 442-9932.
Sincerely,
Matthew J. TitoneMember of Assembly
MJT/nbc
