Verizon workers strike update revealed the demand of union workers for an abrupt investigation regarding forced fiber upgrades. The mere demand is not accepted by Verizon, and it calls the grievance as irrelevant and ridiculous.
According to Ars Technica, "A union representing Verizon workers has asked the Federal Communications Commission to investigate the company's copper-to-fiber upgrades, saying Verizon is pressuring customers to switch even when they don't want to."
It appears that the complaint stems from Verizon's "Fiber Is The Only Fix" program, in which Verizon automatically sets up copper-to-fiber upgrades when customers with copper-based landline phones call for repairs twice in 18 months. And though many customers welcome the shift to fiber because it brings more reliable and faster Internet access, some prefer to keep copper-based landline phones because they can remain in service during long power outages, reports the same post.
However, "The whole complaint is completely ridiculous. There is no deception whatsoever and we take great exception to this accusation," the Verizon spokesperson told Ars. "The fact that we've never heard a peep from the unions about it until now - in the middle of a work stoppage - tells you everything you need to know about what their real motivation is with this complaint. It's nothing more than yet another publicity stunt aimed to distract from the real issues that need to be settled at the bargaining table."
As Verizon rendered its statement, the union rebutted with legal measures. According to the legal complaint forwarded, "Verizon has institutionalized the deception of consumers under an established internal policy - the 'Fiber is the Only Fix' ('FITOF') policy... under which technicians and other Verizon employees are required actively and purposefully to mislead their customers," the complaint said.
On a different note, as Verizon workers demand retribution for their present strike ordeal, the worst is yet to come. To prove the latter, it has been mentioned by 6abc that the Verizon workers will lose their benefits giving more difficulties in the coming days.
It stands to reason that the strike brought forth much scrutiny for Verizon and at the same time difficulties for the Verizon workers who participated in the strike. The forced fiber upgrades have reached a dead end as workers bluntly voiced out their indifference. Even though Verizon sees the grievance as ridiculous and irrelevant, the reality of the tech giant facing demise rises in the horizon.
