Verizon Charged With Exploiting Workers

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Verizon workers in Northern Virginia say they are being forced to perform “mandatory overtime,” charging that Verizon’s Director of FiOS Installation is exploiting a provision in their contract that allows up to eight extra “volunteer hours” per week if necessary. “For a business, it’s cheaper to pay overtime than to hire new workers, but this mandatory overtime might affect morale and even lead to safety issues,” says CWA Local 2222 President Jim Hilleary. In light of Verizon’s push for mandatory overtime, the telephone company has also laid off 30 technicians, with more cuts coming in November. “Thriving corporations like Verizon should set an example for area businesses by maintaining a stable workforce rather than cutting jobs,” adds Hilleary. “There’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed when forcing overtime, and if it gets too bad, the company should really think about new hires.”
– Joseph Daniels, AFL-CIO Union Summer Intern