Brighthouse Networks Union Vote

[babcea]

I was thinking about trying to get a job with BHN here in north fl,but if the union passes and spreads up here I will stay where I am at for now.Thank you for the info on this I want nothing to do with a union.people think the economy is bad know,just wait until they do away with the secret ballot for unions,lay offs will be everywhere.

[cableguy01]

What a total bunch of hogwash.

Time and time again its proven that we cannot trust "for" profit companies to make the right choices for their customers and most of all their workforces. These companies have gone unchecked for so long they become so greedy that they drive the company into bankruptcy only to see the CEO move onto another company with a major multimillion dollar bonus.

Yes, you really pushed one of my hot buttons. I worked my butt off to keep getting better and better jobs during my life. There were months even of 20 hour days. Oh what's the use. You won't get it.

Just an update. The union didnt go through. The numbers were 100 NO and 20 YES. . .

Now that the Union vote is over, what has the company done to make it better for the employees ( based on all the problems that were uncovered)?

Problems? Yes.. The same ones Brighthouse service technicians have had all along.
What have they done to fix them? What have you done to fix them?

Spam workers just received double their paycheck as a thank you bonus (thats right SPAM... who the hell eats that stuff anymore. They still make a profit good enough to reward their employees????) Some other companies got on the bandwagon and did the same.

This year. Thats right, right before they closed their books the CEO's, VP and P thought of their workers. This comes in the middle of an alleged recession? They chose to REWARD their employees?

Hey Joe, "Here's a bonus because we know the price of fuel, power and life sucks right now, so heres a couple paydays to hold you over."

It sure as hell wasn't a $25.00 gift card to Publix. Nope. Not what the Brighthouse technicians got at all.

This job does suck. But we chose the job... it didn't choose us! What was the bottom line? P A Y R A I S E. Not being greedy at all. How the hell can I afford Christmas this year??????? Oh. That's my problem. Asking for Christmas... The nerve.

Promotion = P A Y R A I S E. (Zero experience is ok too).

I don't want a promotion. Whats the point? If you have a bunch of new guys getting paid more from day one, and promoted faster than the guy who's been here 10 years, why would I want to request more responsibility?

I want equal pay that reflects the changes in the financial market as a whole. Not just cost of living adjustments, but changes in fuel, food, housing, insurance and utilities. Not merit based increases. If you own your own telephone company and associated equipment how can you possibly dupe me into beleiving there is zero room for a payraise when the whole damn thing is profit???

Its getting to hard to accept that the only reason that their van goes out in the field is to break even on a paycheck. Just enough to pay the mortgage and utilities doesnt require a monkey to realize how the company is screwing us over.......

I voted "NO" on the advice of Brighthouse and their voices of experience. They in turn have proven what they were going to do for us. I voted "NO", marked the "RIGHT" box, and you know what happened?. Nothing. Nothing changed. Not a thing has improved. Instead employees have gone from being pulled from the field to go to a meeting every 7 days, pounding in the words "VOTE NO", to a series of closed and slammed doors.

Thanks for listening and I hope this answered some of your questions.

[The Insider]

BHN Gave pay raises this year in Jan, like they always do, at least in Orlando. They also plan to do the same this Jan, like normal.

If you didnt get a pay raise you didnt earn one. Most people got in the 4-5% increase range which isnt shabby at all. Those who got less then 3% should really look a their work ethic.

Sure BHN still sags behind other major cable companies when it comes to pay (comcast starts out about the same rate a 2-3year tech at BHN makes) but BHN also has a great benefit package. Sure the perscription drug plan changed a bit this year, for some its better for some maybe worse. But thats the cost of doing business I guess. Also note BHN did give out more money this year for thanksgiving then they have in the past. The first time they have increased that amount in over 5 years so thats a plus. We can only hope they will do the same for the christmas bonus.


Verizon may start out much higher then BHN, but thats because they are the new toy on the block. Its like that whenever a new competitiors jumps in the loop, they try to lure away the talent. When Americast launched in Orlando many many years ago, they almost doubled Cablevisions/TCI (at the time) pay. What was the end result? Americast packed their bags and left and no one knew where they went.

[iceturkee]

sorry, but the op sounds very disgruntled. perhaps, a change of job would help both parties alot!

[cableguy01]

I was thinking about trying to get a job with BHN here in north fl,but if the union passes and spreads up here I will stay where I am at for now.Thank you for the info on this I want nothing to do with a union.people think the economy is bad know,just wait until they do away with the secret ballot for unions,lay offs will be everywhere.

Do you even know what sewage is spewing from your mouth? Do us a favor and stay under that rock...

Thanks!

[cableguy01]

If they win, you do realize that this will set presidence (sp?) in all of Florida for all the BHN techs.

Sadly, all this will end up doing in the long run is raising cable prices in Florida.

I'm not saying vote no. Just be prepared for the whirl wind of its affects.

Im sorry if your cable bill went up $10.00 this year. I can assure you not even a penny of the increase went into my wallet.

[cableguy01]

Quote:"If I worked for BHN and was a lazy technician, I would think the union is a wonderful thing. I could continue to F-off in my van and do the bare minimum all day while having an extra layer of protection for my job. I could laugh and snicker amongst myself at the other idiots, working so hard and earning the same pay. I'd have no incentive to work harder, as there would be no reward anyway. "

Reply:
What do you think we do in those trucks all day? Damn straight we screw off. WIFI tablets and unlimited cell phones.... I personally like to log into myspace and post on blogs the majority of my lunch break (NO! We dont get one of those either!!!) But if you did, wouldnt you screw off all day like we do? I know I did absolutely nothing last week and guess what... I probably will do not a damn thing this week!!! Because you are right. You have exposed not only my lack of motivation, but also the lack of motivation of the remaining field techs who are a part of an elitist club known as the "I am a screw off in my truck, sleep on the side behind circle k all day kinda cableperson!!!!"

Thanks for letting everyone know we are still out there!

To be quite honest I was told if the union was voted in we would certainly lose a majority or a portion of the existing benefits. I was totally disturbed by this because if I lost my free cable I don't know what I'd do... .Oh yeah... I would have tell customers (assuming the Union had been voted in), that I have Fios, and I dont have near as many issues as they do. I would only tell them this because I would be making enough money to be obligated to try FIOS. Instead I am limited to and exclusively for the Brighthouse product because it is one of our "free" benefits and I obviously enjoy working on it sooo much everyday that when I come home I want to go back to work on my own house... but then again I guess I just "don't know any better".

I miss the days of doing an honest days work for an honest days pay. Now I work to get paid and hope to make it to the next check just scraping by.

[Khandurian]

All I gotta say is if you think working for BHN is so bad, you should try being a contractor for them. Go and listen to their complaints as I have and you will know that your job is what those contractors are after.

They dont get benefits. They don't get free cable. They dont get reduced internet and phone.

If they mess up a job for what ever reason, bad day, forgot to crimp a fitting, forgot to torque down the fittings, they get back charged the entire job PLUS 75$.

Oh and btw, my cable bill didn't go up 10$ this year I have satellite. There are always other options.

For some of you reading this, I just spoke with the rep here in Brevard County for AT&T. I like to be informed on whats going on in my area. Their techs are starting out at $13.50 an hour. Maybe you should look into their service. As a bonus, their already union!