Verizon - The Problem

My friend recently told me of his trevails while working for Verizon.

He is a maintenance worker who is full time, has been for years, and is definitely representative of the majority of Verizon workers.

He said that up until 2 years ago, he was making enough money, + overtime, that he was able to buy a house, pay the mortgage, and have a kid with his wife.  

I saw him last week.  He said, "I'm afraid I'm going to lose my house.  Verizon transferred me to another group 2 years ago, and I have not gotten overtime since then."

He is currently on kid #2.  He lives in suburban central NJ, in a reasonable area, not outside his means at all.  Given, his wife has stopped working over the last several years, since they had a baby and that kid is now around 3.

He also told me that during the last strike of Verizon workers (remember that?), they left the picket line and went back to work because they were promised negotiations in good faith.

That never happened.  Period.  

So: we have a mid 30's yr old Verizon full time employee, who is now unable to afford his house and 2 kids, because that won't be possible on his salary....without overtime.

Last I checked, for this quarter in April 2011 Verizon saw revenues increase 4.6 percent to $28.2 billion, up from $26.9 billion, with net income of $3.9 billion, an almost 20 percent jump from last year.

WAY more than enough to negotiate with the workers that make the company possible and profitable in good faith.  So what the fucking problem here?

That, my friends, is my question to you. 

Arizona Pregnancy And Abortion Laws - Time For Male Sections

Quick post, because I have to go to work.

Arizona is discussing a new law that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy - but the wording makes it so that women are considered pregnant 2 weeks before conception, in the 20 week period.

My position: If we are going to govern a woman's body and her pregnancy and all that - it is about time that men are governed by the same laws. A woman doesn't get pregnant by herself - why should she have all the responsibility and laws for her behavior?

If a woman gets pregnant, and is not allowed an abortion, or anything like that, then the man who got her pregnant should have some responsibility by law as well. It's that simple. Like, you know, don't abandon your sex partner to her fate that is your fault.