To all New England employees,
As you may know, a handful of Verizon employees representing IBEW Local 2323 staged brief informational pickets at a few of our locations today.  We are not surprised that they continue to solicit Cox employees. The IBEW is engaged in an effort to organize cable companies nationwide to bolster their declining membership base.
IBEW Local 2323 primarily represents employees of Verizon, Cox’s single largest competitor in Rhode Island. This is the same group that made an unsuccessful attempt to organize our Connecticut field service technicians almost 18 months ago.
Ironically, just yesterday Bill McGowan, business manager for IBEW Local 2323, touted Verizon as having "the best technology and workforce to deliver broadband and cutting-edge cable TV services to customers” in a Verizon-issued press release.  We obviously think differently. But it remains quite clear that IBEW Local 2323 is heavily invested in Verizon’s competitive success – at the expense of our company and its employees.
I can’t speak for the situation and the environment at Verizon but I simply don’t believe you need to pay another organization to speak on your behalf at a company like Cox.  Our mission is to engage and empower employees as our most important competitive advantage.  Our ability to do so is directly related to an atmosphere, working conditions and communications that don't need a third party in the middle.
As the competition in our Rhode Island and Connecticut markets heats up I would expect we’ll continue see organizations like the IBEW that have aligned with the phone companies continuing to solicit for business as well. I’m not sure you can separate the two.  As I have shared in the past, I have a high degree of confidence that our business plan and our philosophy of direct engagement with you will ensure our continued success going forward.
As is always the case, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your Supervisor with any questions or concerns.
Paul