Verizon, the RAT and Back to negotiations

Verizon and the Rat(s)

The following shows the effect of demonstrations.  Verizon is now back at the negotiating table.

Aside from the actual strikers/picketers, it was a sight to see so many Democrats and Democratic candidates protesting the union-busting corporate greed of Verizon. Here are some highlights:

The RAT

Another rat - Symbols of the greed of Verizon.

Remember Verizon was not and is not a GM or corporation in financial trouble.  It recently gave its top executives a quarter of a billion dollars!  It is more profitable than ever.  It is peculiar that its profits are so appreciated by Verizon corporate leadership that it gave many millions to 5 people at the top – as if they were solely responsible for the company’s success.  Ironically, Verizon’s recent advertising campaign featured all the technical people supporting Verizon services – but not its CEO or executive staff.  Working people are good for advertising fodder but not salary and benefits.  Verizon wanted to strip retirement, health insurance, job security and even the Martin Luther King holiday from the people that are at least as responsible ( and whom have been celebrated in its advertising campaigns) for it profits as the top 5 executives.

Proud to be a DEMOCRAT? – It must be especially proud to be a Hudson Democrat.  Its committee not only had the sign but many of its candidates, its leader Victor Mendolia, and many others were in attendance.  There were many Democratic Party members present, including Lee Jamison of Stuyvesant, Carl Roby of Stockport and Deputy CC chair, Cyndy Hall.  Mayoral candidate Nick Haddad was quoted in the Register Star as saying

“ …… It is only typical in America, the way corporate companies treat the very members of our country for corporate profits.”

Later, Kinderhook Town Committee members brought coffee and doughnuts to the Verizon picketers.

Verizon - poor corporate baby

Verizon …………Poor baby !!!!

Corporations are people too, says Mitt Romney, joined by Rand Paul and Sarah Plain.  

The scary thing is – The US Supreme Court agrees.  Apparently this is a real GOP belief.

Corporations are treated as “super people”.  They have rights people do not.  For example, all corporations have limited liability. In addition, the Constitutional provision providing for bankruptcy has been taken away from many real people but remains in full force for corporations.

In addition, although there have been over 24 violent acts against picketers by Verizon scabs and management, the FBI is investigating “sabotage” by the CWA on the basis of the Verizon complaint.  They are not investigating the instigation of running over picketers even though upper management has condoned being mad at the picketers (for exercising free speech rights).

The media reports have focused upon the Verizon allegation and have ignored picket line violence by Verizon.

Here are some interesting facts:

1.               Verizon’s outgoing CEO, Ivan Seidenberg, earned more than $18 million in total compensation in 2010, roughly $49,000 a day.

2.               Verizon earned $6.9 billion in net income for the first six months of this year.

3.               Verizon reported $10.2 billion in profits in 2010

4.               This enviable record of profitability has been used to justify the $258 million spent on salaries, bonuses, and stock options for just five of the company’s top executives.

5.               Over the past four years, the company earned nearly $20 billion for its shareholders.

6.               The Wall Street Journal noted last month, the telecom giant “isn’t under any financial stress.”

So why is Verizon demanding “give backs” consisting of:

1.     Reduction in retirement benefits

2.     Reduction in Health benefits

3.     Less sick leave

4.     Over 50 other contract changes

The answer is GREED.

What can you do to:

First:

Go to: http://action.cwa-union.org/c/1153/p/salsa/web/tellafriend/public/?tell_a_friend_KEY=8181

And send a letter to Verizon

Second:

Join CWA 1120,  CWA1118 and IBEW

 in a

Solidarity Rally at:

4 PM Wednesday August 17^th

62 Fairview Ave, Hudson, NY 12534-1018. 

Verizon Store ?

Follow the link and map it, parking in the rear shopping center.

Third:

Speak out on every occasion against the RAT and the corporate pigs.  The solidarity rally will feature “The rat”, which the area unions use to depict union busting people and people/corporations like Wisconsin republicans and Verizon.  I would prefer the rat as a scab and use a pig as the corporate/people, but approve of almost anything that will get the attention of the media and thru the media real human being type people.

References:

1. http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/08/15/295646/ron-paul-mitt-romney-corporations-people/

2. Huffington Post By DAVID PORTER   08/11/11 07:30 PM ET

3. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2023428/Verizon-worker-strike-Thousands-picket-line-east-coast.html

4.  OP-ED | STEVE EARLY AND DON TREMENTOZZI

5.  Huffington Post – 8 10 2011

Social Security on Chopping block Gibson's Office Drop by August 2,2011

Kinderhook Gibson’s Office Protest Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Pictured here is a gathering of protestors at noon on Tuesday August 2, 2011. Addressing the gathering is Shirley Ripullone head of Columbia County MoveOn.org Council. She addresses the confidence crisis and fear for Social Security. As can be seen by the signs, the main concern is the effect of the GOP assault upon Social Security. It was pointed out by one speaker that the Register Star reported over the weekend that the Hudson Social Security Office is reducing its hours because of prior budget cuts. Everyone is concerned with what happens next and expressed concern with Congressman Gibson following the GOtP leadership.

Reference was made to the editorial alarm entitled Off the brink but still on edge in the Albany Times Union; it said, in part:

Off the brink but still on edge

Relax a little, America, we’re not going over the cliff, and taking the world with us. But how much can a nation relax when a congress that almost let a radical fringe nearly wreck the economy all over again will still be on the job for another 17 months. That’s plenty of time for the tea party wing of the Republican Party to try to turn what is still the world’s richest nation into a deadbeat country that holds its poor , its sick, its elderly and even its middle and working classes- everyone who is struggling it seems – in contempt.

This editorial together with another one in the same page refers to the followers of Russ Limbaugh as not caring about saving the country, or reference to averting disaster with the debt ceiling,… it was all about Limbaugh’s stated “ I hope he fails”.

If you have not read today’s Times Union, I suggest you read these editorials in full which can be accessed on line at:

http://www.timesunion.com/opinion/

Statements and names of participant were given to the cordial staff of Mr. Gibson.



Doug McGivney

E-Mail: dmcgivney@nycap.rr.com

The Gibson Spin - Register Star

Today’s Register Star coverage of the Kinderhook Gibson Office "Drop By".

The following above the fold front page photo was the Register Star’s depiction of the peaceful and civil “drop by” attended by people from Dutchess, Greene and Columbia Counties.

A neighbor on her way to the post office, Diane Welton entered the fray with the assertion that her research indicated that the Obama administration had hidden away in it health care bill secret provisions for an army to serve at the presidents discretion….

The front page article today’s Register Star is a prime example of successful spin by Congressman Gibson.  The article is just beneath the photo of the lone Tea Party person who loudly interrupted the civil and peaceful proceeding.  The article then prints Congressman Gibson’s spin on the protests throughout the district.  Only the photographer attended the gathering.  There was no reporting upon the issues raised by the various speakers.

All participants were invited to speak from a podium and many of the over 40 people did.  The lone Tea Partier just shouted inanities from the middle of the crowd.  The issues were:

1.      Where are the jobs?

2.      Extend the Debt limit

3.      Save Social Security

4.      Save Medicare

5.      Save Medicaid

Many signs repeated these often stated issues. The peaceful nature of the protest is shown here with people patiently waiting to be heard at the make shift podium.  The only lack of civility was the yelling by the Gibson Tea Party supporter.

Mr. Gibson’s purported responses are reported in the Register Star, even though Mr. Gibson was in Washington. Those reported responses were:

1.       Jobs.  Not addressed except to say that: keeping taxes low while spending less will eventually grow the economy…  Since lack of jobs is the immediate need, how long does he think it will take to “eventually grow the economy"?

2.       Debt Limit.  Mr. Gibson claims that the “debt ceiling needs to be raised”.  However, he claims the only bill he voted for was the “Cut, Cap and Balance” proposal. Not only was that shear posturing so he and the rest of  the GOP could claim they did something, it like Speaker Boehner’s proposal isn’t consistent with the Ryan Budget, which Congressman Gibson’s also voted for.  The Ryan Budget would be unconstitutional under any of the Balanced Budget Amendment proposals.   In addition the GOP has refused to identify the “cuts”.  Many former GOP leaders have pointed out the craziness of idea. Bill Hoagland, a budget adviser to Republican leaders from 1982 to 2007, called the amendment “a political cheap shot,” while Scott Galupo, a former staffer for Boehner, has called the idea “quite simply, insane.”

(Reported by http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/07/18/271433/gop-balanced-budget-refuse-to-say/)

Although Mr. Gibson gives lip service to the idea of the increase in the debt ceiling, he is following Speaker Boehner’s and the Tea party mandates right down the line.

3.      Medicare.  Mr. Gibson says in his Register Star that he “concurs “with the protesters concerns.   However the Ryan Budget which he voted for destroys the current Medicare system and substitutes an uncontrolled market based system by which seniors would purchase medical policies.  Under this plan seniors would pay over $ 6,000.00 per year more than they are paying now.  Plus it cuts the amount to be spent on Medicare by $ 500 Billion dollars.

 

4.      Social Security, he has refused to sign a pledge submitted by local people that he would protect Social Security but has signed the Grover Norquest pledge, which, if followed will destroy Social Security.

5.      Medicaid.  This program which not only helps the poor with their medical care, it is the single biggest supporter of our Nursing Homes.  Without Medicaid – no middle class person could afford Nursing home care.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

                                              

Congressman Gibson's Office Post Obama Speech 7 26 2011

Congressman Gibson’s Office

Kinderhook NY

July 26, 2011

Many people from Columbia, Greene and Dutchess County appeared at Congressman Gibson’s Kinderhook Office on Tuesday July 26, following Monday night’s Debt Ceiling address by President Obama and the GOP response by Speaker Boehner.  With signs entitled: “Where are the Jobs”; “Save Social Security”, “Preserve Medicare” the speeches were about the debt ceiling hold up.  “ Hold up” war often used words as the issues of Jobs, Social Security, and Medicare are only being discussed by the GOP and Congressman Gibson in the context of limiting them as a price for allowing past debts to be paid.

 Staff at Mr. Gibson’s office was polite, engaging and listed objections and gave reasoned responses. The crowds were also polite, courteous and civil.  The only disturbance was a Tea Party lady who yelled something unintelligible about Obama care and then engaged some saying she didn’t request but got Medicare but didn’t need it.

Photos of the event are below:

                                                                                   

American Dream Caravan

On Thursday July 21, 2011 at 1:00PM, during the 90+ heat nearly 75 hardy souls met to deliver a message to Congressman Gibson’s Kinderhook Office.  That message was loud and clear, Preserve:

                              The BIG THREE

-        Senior retirement help            Social Security

-        Senior Health Care                   Medicare

-        Nursing homes                         Medicaid

Mr. Gibson and the Grover Norquest Pledge

It seems that Congressman Gibson has signed the GOP Grover Norquest Pledge, which is interpreted to mean continuing tax credits for Oil Companies, Loopholes for most corporations and even continuing tax breaks that encourage “off shore banking” and moving jobs off shore.  However, the Norquest pledge does not include: increasing senior retirement contributions (Medicare), making nursing homes more expensive (Medicare) or decreasing payment to retirees (Social Security). Why is decreasing a tax credit for Sunoco forbidden, yet decreasing payments to Social Security retirees OK? 

Although, Mr. Gibson signed the Norquest pledge and is following its interpretation to a “T”, he refused to sign a pledge to protect Social Security, requested by two local citizens!

Here are photos from the American Dream rally at Congressman Gibson’s Kinderhook Office:

My favorite poster:

Victor Mendolia addresses the crowd on the need to protect people with disabilities.  Pictured in front of Mr. Mendolia are President and Eleanor Roosevelt. They were great actors! The both spoke,, saying the things that were said in the 1930s under similar circumstances. Victor’s address on the needs of HIV/AIDS victims was particularly relevant to the GOP spending cuts.

Supervisor Hughes from Hudson, also emphasized the need for persons with disabilities. Please note the posters in the background.

Other photos, including Stockport's Carl Roby, speaking as a retired union leader.

American Dream Movement

Tomorrow, Thursday, July 21^st at Congressman Gibson’s* Office in Kinderhook, there will be a gathering of people desiring to:

               PROTECT, RESERVE, AND STRENGTHEN:

MEDICARE,

MEDICAID

SOCIAL  SECURITY

AND

CREATE GOOD JOBS AND A JUST ECONOMY

 Democracy begins when YOU show up! 

Please join us to petition Congressman Gibson to help us rebuild the “American Dream.”

Over the past weekend thousands of people including over 50 people thru out Columbia County and the nation met to discuss what makes the “American Dream” and how to make it happen. More information about the American Dream Movement may be found at my blog at

http://dougmcgivneyfromkinderhook.blogspot.com/

Below are the ideas generated by a small group in Stuyvesant Falls:

Good Jobs Now

               1. Move toward a Clean, Green, Independent Energy Future.

               2. Invest in American’s Future.

               3. End the Huge Waste of the Wars and invest the Money in Peace-Building.

Strong Communities

1.      Medicare for All

2.      Substantially Reduce Military Spending

3.      Protect Women’s Rights and Health

We All Pay Our Share

              

1.      Return to Fairer Tax Rates

2.      Tax Speculation at Least as Much as Perspiration

3.      Robin Hood Tax: Tax Wall Street Speculation

Working Democracy

              

1.      Eliminate Corporate Personhood

2.      Reinstate Common Sense Rules of the Road for Wall Street

3.      Stop the Assault on Unions and Worker’s Rights

So far as immediate action, we decided to join the Statewide Caravan to Restore the American Promise by attending the Thursday’s meeting at Congressman Gibson’s Office in Kinderhook at 1:00 PM. I suggest we create and carry signs saying: 

Save Social Security


*

Note:

 Congressman Gibson’s positions;

He has signed the Grover Norquest Pledge to oppose any and all deductions, credits unless matched by spending cuts.  Grover Norquest and the GOP have interpreted that to mean no changes in credits to Oil or GE.  However, cuts to people-welfare ideas like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are not considered changes in credits.  In addition, local people have requested that Mr. Gibson sign a pledge to preserve Social Security and he has refused to do so.