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 that shouldn't be your concern. YOU DIDN'T CREATE THE NEED AND DESIRE FOR A UNION.
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... take more away if you wish.... I want my new company Altice to be successful."
Now that's what I call...... SACRIFICE. I am in awe of you guys who agreed to this. I mean, ya don't even know your new owner, yet, you're willing to give yourselves up. How cool is that!
And then there are those who don't see it that way. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE?
How lame is that?
Well, Oakland was "mad as hell" and they weren't gonna take it anymore.
Altice knows the squeeze is on. Oakland has 95 union members. GOOD FOR THEM. If three other depots join in, it would total over 400 union members. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF THE STRENGTH THIS CONVICTION WOULD HOLD? 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. A chance to freeze any surprise, underhanded, unknown future policies Altice had palnned for their "employees.". Sure they will continue their business model. Their fiber rebuild will go on as scheduled. They will not be closing shop tomorrow.
But here's a chance to stop Altice in their labor-busting tracks. Forcing Altice to deal with one voice. One voice experienced in the double-talk and rhetoric Altice will offer. 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. The everyday "tension" and hush-hush atmosphere that lingered in their depot. Who can you trust? Who's telling the truth? Who will submit names to management? Is management lying? What aren't details given out? ALL THAT IS OVER FOR NOW.
And yes, you've gotta pay union dues. Pain in the butt. But that WON’T begin UNTIL a contract is signed. For the time being, Oakland has peace of mind, to know there'll be less tension coming from management. Far less. But the atmosphere in other depots is reminiscent of a scene from "The Walking Dead.".
If the other depots join in, this will throw a HUGE monkey wrench into Altice's plans. 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 OSP, keep in mind, they also have or will have reduced salaries, but they earn much more than you do. No comparison. You will not be fired. The NLRB will get involved. Altice will receive bad publicity. And who knows, politicians and lawyers might intervene. GOOD FOR YOU.
This happened so fast. 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. And Altice will make many promises. And logic dictates many will be broken. It's that simple.