months. No matter where I go or who I talk to, whether IBEW members or
members of other labor unions, everyone is saying the same thing. "Work is
slow, no one is spending money, we are losing jobs."
We need to ask ourselves as Union members "Are we doing everything we can
to keep our jobs, and help turn this recession around?"
I look at being a Union member as not just something which comes with the
job, but as a lifestyle, something that affects every part of my life.
When I shop I make the effort to support good paying American jobs by
looking for the Union label or the Made in U.S.A label. I buy from
companies that I know provide good wages and benefits for their employees.
I avoid companies that have moved work overseas.
I am willing to spend a little more of my Union wages to support American
workers, because I know that the workers I support by buying American are
the same people spending their money on Verizon products to keep us
working.
Now is the time for us as IBEW824 members to do everything possible to
save our jobs. We need to live up to our commitment in Article 2 Section
1 Paragraph 1.2 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
"The Brotherhood agrees that the members of the Local Union will use their
best
endeavors to protect the interest of the Company, to conserve its
property, and to
furnish the highest quality of service. The Brotherhood and the Local
Union will
cooperate with the Company in promoting the welfare and advancement of the
industry."
Each and every day we need to think about the way we do our job and how it
affects every other member. Please encourage everyone you know to purchase
Verizon products. When you are at work do the best quality job you can.
Give 8 hours work for 8 hours pay. Let's show Verizon that we can do the
work better than anyone else.
With our collective power and the decisions we make every day, we can turn
this economy around.
We have to do our best each and every day despite the challenges and
roadblocks, for we are IBEW members, the best workers in the world, and
the jobs we save could be our own.
In solidarity,
Erik W. Jones
