Thread regarding Altice USA (Cablevision) layoffs

Though I am no longer with this company, during my 20 years I was involved in 3 "union threats." And it was fairly easy to get technicians to see the management side. I merely present facts that were prevalent during that time. No B.S. from me was heard. Just facts. The company first tries to get a reaction or "feel" of the employees, to see "who's side" you're on. If it looks good for them, the company has very little to worry. But when it "looks bad" the pressure is on. Secretive meetings are held within management. I know... I've been in those meetings. Threats are imposed upon supervisors, AOMs and directors. The kind of threat that normally works is the old "or else." To all technicians, remember, management also have families and a certain lifestyle to keep. They earn a lot more money than you do. So, it's every man for himself. But right now, that shouldn't be your concern. Here are some more facts: YOU DIDN'T MAKE THAT THREAT. YOU didn't say to management "please reduce my salary, my sick days, my holidays, change my hours, reduce my equipment, increase company standards to make goals essentially impossible to attain ..... anything... please.... just don't do anything to our superiors." So, now the squeeze is on. Oakland has 95 union members. GOOD FOR THEM. But the depot is small. Not knowing the number of "eligible" union members (this is a guess), and assuming the other depots have the same number, if three other depots joined in, it would total 400 union members. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF THE STRENGTH THIS CONVICTION WOULD HOLD? Think of it this way: if the Bronx had joined in initially (that's about 160), everyone else would've joined in. No doubt. But now YOU'VE GOT A POSSIBLE 400 !!! That's MORE than the Bronx and Brooklyn combined! Brooklyn made their move years ago. If this isn't a "wake up call" to all other depots..... then I don't know what is. Take it from someone who's been there and done that. A chance to freeze any underhanded future policies Altice is planning. A chance to stop Altice in their tracks. Forcing Altice to deal with one voice. One voice who would be experienced in the double-talk and rhetoric Altice will offer. Right now all depots have no idea of what the other depots are feeling. But one thing is for sure.... Oakland had the idea....OAKLAND has had enough! Oakland technicians considered their families. Oakland voted for their future. Oakland did what was best for them. Oakland was smart enough to see what was happening. Oakland felt the "tension", the hush-hush atmosphere within each other. Who can you trust? Who's telling the truth? Who will submit names to management? Is management lying? What aren't details given out? And this is EXACTLY what management wants..... FEAR. So, Oakland decided.... enough with the B.S. The one certainty they know is this: Altice will no longer hold last minute special meetings with employees to try to influence them. That conversation is over andwill be given to one person, who won't take any crap from anybody. Guaranteed, he's heard them all. That's the union rep's job. And yes, you've gotta pay union dues. Pain in the butt. You've done worst with your money. Far worst. But consider this, that at least for the time being, you'll have peace of mind, to know there'll be less tension coming from management. Far less. Currently, the atmosphere in your depot is reminiscent of a scene from "The Walking Dead.". Altice's strategy will drastically change. Now it's panic time.... for Altice. If the other depots join in, this will throw a HUGE monkey wrench into Altice's plans. And to those other depots... expect surprise meetings. Expect those who are on "management's side" to approach you. Those are your "rats". And odds are, salary-wise, they're at the bottom of the pole. If you're approached by engineering, keep in mind, they also have or will have reduced salaries, but they earn much more than you do. No comparison. My plea to those depots.... join Oakland. This will be the last chance you'll have. You will not be fired. The NLRB will get involved. Altice will receive bad publicity. And who knows, politicians might butt in. GOOD FOR YOU. And because this happened so fast, or those who had faith in Altice saw that they were clearly wrong, here's your final opportunity to buy yourself some time. That while Altice is dealing with the union, you're improving yourself. Learning a new trade or improving your current one. Promises are made to be broken. Altice will make many promises. And logic dictates many will be broken. It's that simple. I pity you guys if you vote the union out. Because your "promise"... is made to be broken. An easy one.... to break.