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Potential Verizon Strike Could Impact Enterprise IT

If Verizon is the "last mile" for your ISP, and you are planning on ordering voice or data service in the near future, you better get your order in now.

ISP's are beginning to forewarn their customers that a Verizon strike, which appears more likely now, will almost certainly have an impact on the time needed to deliver on any adds, moves, or changes to service.

Health-care benefits and labor outsourcing to third-party contractors are at the heart of the dispute between Verizon management and the Communications Workers of America's "Verizon East" territory, which accounts for more than 50,000 techs and customer service reps.

According to Jessica Gdowski at the Voice Report, almost 91% of CWA's members voted to authorize a strike, and while that vote doesn't mean there will be a strike, time is ticking down quickly toward the expiration of the CWA labor contract at midnight on Aug. 2.

To make matters worse for Verizon management, the contract covering the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) also expires on Aug. 2. As a result, Verizon is training its Account Manager to pull cable in the case of a strike.

If the telco workers do strike, on the voice side, I don't expect much impact for Enterprise IT because the voice communications system is so highly automated today. But on the data side, if you need last mile repairs or a new installation, be mindful that this impending strike might affect your delivery dates.

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