Verizon says its network has suffered 57 incidents of vandalism in seven states in the two weeks since 36,000 workers went on strike. The "incidents of sabotage," mostly involving the severing of fiber optic cables or damage to terminal boxes, "have cut off thousands of Verizon customers from critical wireline services," the company said Wednesday.
Under normal conditions, there are only about a half-dozen incidents of sabotage over the course of a year, a Verizon spokesperson told Ars today. Verizon says it is still investigating the incidents and hasn't pinned the blame on anyone specific. But the company's announcement pointed out that "these malicious actions take place as Verizon is experiencing a strike."
Verizon reported similar incidents of vandalism during another strike in 2011.
A union representing Verizon workers blames the company for failing to maintain its network. The Communications Workers of America (CWA) issued a press release claiming that safety violations are "rampant" while Verizon uses replacement workers.
"Basic safety practices aren’t being followed as unqualified managers and contractors hang cables, place poles, and operate heavy equipment throughout the Verizon footprint, which extends from Massachusetts to Virginia," the union said. "Many hazardous incidents have been documented, and the scope of the safety violations undermines claims by Verizon officials that they can properly maintain service during the strike. Union workers and safety experts worry that it’s just a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed."
We asked a CWA representative if the union knows who is responsible for the vandalism but did not receive a direct answer. Instead, the CWA provided a statement saying that "Regulators in three states are already investigating Verizon for its refusal to keep up with network maintenance and wear and tear—the root of many ongoing service problems... Additional delays that customers are experiencing because of the strike are a result of Verizon executives' insistence on offshoring and outsourcing jobs and their refusal to invest in adequately maintaining lines."
Verzon is offering $10,000 rewards for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of people who damage the company's equipment. "Anyone witnessing sabotage should call 911 and then contact Verizon’s Security department at 1-800-997-3287," Verizon said.
Verizon described sabotage in Massachusetts, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland. "For example, on April 15 in Salisbury, Mass., vandals sliced a group of wires inside a terminal that provided 911 emergency services to local residents. Services have since been restored by Verizon managers," Verizon said.
Verizon did not say exactly how many customers are still without service. "We’ve restored a lot of them," a Verizon spokesperson told Ars. "Overall our maintenance load isn’t much different than it was before the strike. We’re doing a good job maintaining service and would be doing even better if it weren’t for these blatant acts of vandalism."
In North Tonawanda, New York, strikers gathered last week at an intersection to protest while non-union workers tried to fix a downed telephone line, the Niagara Gazette reported.
Strikers "called the workers out when the phone line was raised back up," the report said. "It was too low and a semi-truck was nearly unable to pass beneath it."
Union workers complain that Verizon is seeking to move jobs offshore, outsource work to low-wage contractors, close call centers, and force technicians to go on months-long assignments away from home. They also say that Verizon has cut staff instead of living up to promises to install more FiOS fiber lines.
Yesterday, Verizon made what it called its "last, best final offer," including a 7.5 percent wage increase. The CWA said Verizon still hasn't met the union's demands and said that "Verizon workers remain on strike and are standing strong on the picket lines."
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