8/16/2019 NYS Senator Diane Savino's Letter

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CHAIR TH E SENATE ALBANY OFFICE: NK S

STATEOFNEWYORK R00M315COMMITTEE MEMBER LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING

ALBANY ‘-1EV OR.< 12247CHIC DEEN AND FAL9C ES

PHONE SIB 353-237OdES

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STATEN ISLAND NEWGRK 10331 G\SIIMER PROTECTION

PHONE I7IN:- 727-9456CIMFV:CIhiS CR ME AND CORRECTiON

FAX :7181FINANCE

DIANE J SAVINO 2872W 15TH STREETlUDIC lADY SENATOR: 23RD DISTRICTBROOKLYN NEW YORK 11221

INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE LIAISON PI ONE 17181 333-0311EMAILADDRESS

TO TH E EXECUTIVE BRANCH F X 347 192-3261SAVI NOV N N ATE 00 9

Lowell McAdamChief Executive Officer

Verizon CommunicationsOn e Verizon WayBasking Ridge, NJ 07920

May 2 0 1 h 2016

Dear CE O McAdam:

I am deeply concerned about the ongoing Verizon strike and the company’s treatment of workers,

customers and taxpayers. Millions of Americans rely on Verizon for communications services an d they need you to work together with your employees to provide quality service, not fightwith them in needlessly contentious negotiations.

From what I understand, the company’s proposals would undermine the protection of good jobsin the communities I represent and reduce the standard of living of thousands of middle-classVerizon employees w ho liv e up and down the East Coast. Your proposals would increase thelikelihood that good jobs will be offshored to the Philippines, Mexico and other locationsoverseas; outsourced to low-wage, non-union domestic contractors; and allow the company toforcibly transfer technicians f ar f rom their families for up to two months at a time. I am also

deeply disappointed that Verizon is still refusing, after two years, to negotiate improvements inwage, benefit and working conditions for wireless workers wh o joined the union back in 2014.

While I a m w ell aware of the changes that have taken place in the telecommunications industry, Iknow that Verizon workers are building, installing and maintaining the state-of-the- art FiOSsystem, as well as attempting to ensure that millions of customers still reliant on the coppernetwork continue to receive high quality service. Verizon Wireless retail store workers andtechnicians work in on e of the most profitable sectors of the economy. All deserve to share in thecompany’s success.

Recent reports show that your landline business is solidly profitable, and tha t customers areclamoring for Verizon’s FiOS broadband service. Unfortunately, Verizon has failed to meet its

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8/16/2019 NYS Senator Diane Savino's Letter

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commitments to compLete the FiOS buildout on a timely basis in Ne w York City Philadelphiaand many other markets in its East Coast footprint And while we are heartened b y th eannouncement of plans to build FiOS in Boston many many communities from Virginia toWestern Massachusetts have been left behind At a time when high speed Internet access is evermore important to my constituents’ personal and professional success Verizon is leaving millionson the wrong side of the digital divide would hope you are committed to hiring and retainingthe skilled staff necessary to complete the FiOS buildout. And yet have learned that Verizon’shighly skilled union workforce has declined by nearly 40 percent over the last decade and tha tyour proposed changes in the new contract could continue that downward spiral. This concernsme greatly.

Verizon is an enormously profitable company having made 39 billion in profits over the lastthree years.What our country needs is for a profitable corporation like Verizon to do its part inrespecting the families who make it successful. Th e first step is to settle a fair contract with yourworkers Families in my district and across the country need successful corporations like Verizonto be as mindful of your treatment of their families as you are of your bottom line. In the case ofVerizon workers it’s cLear that you can do both . Rather than encouraging a “race to the bottom”that sends much needed jobs overseas and undermines the pay that working families needstrongly urge you to reconsider your bargaining position and work directly with the unionnegotiating teams to achieve a reasonable bargaining agreement that protects middle class jobsand ensures continued high quality service to the public

Thank y ou for your consideration.

Sincerely

Diane J. Savino23”’ District