More than 60 Verizon employees — most dressed in red polo shirts, at least one in a rat costume — protested the September layoffs of more than two dozen customer-service workers at a rally today in Newark.
"That’s just the beginning," said Kathleen Forte, president of Communications Workers of America Local 1023. "We’re going to hemorrhage jobs."
Union leaders say the communications giant, after taking millions from the state in job-creation incentives, is about to outsource positions to other states, such as South Carolina and Florida.
Verizon spokesman Richard Young called the union’s allegations "offensive."
"It’s factually untrue, baseless and without merit," Young said. "Right now, they’re dreaming up nonsense."
He said the company received $50 million in tax credits in 2005 when it opened its Basking Ridge-based headquarters, creating more than 3,000 jobs.
The most recent cutbacks were part of a July announcement that Verizon was going to trim 8,000 jobs across the country, he said, adding there was no connection between the tax credits and the state jobs that are being cut.
Carlos Diaz, 52, of Bergenfield said he was fired last month from his customer-service position. He said his prospects are bleak if the union can’t help him.
"Right now, to look for work, it’s rough," said Diaz, who was at yesterday’s rally. "I’m not a young kid anymore."
Beth Nigro, 39, a technician at the firm, said rumors point to at least 200 more layoffs of state-based employees before Christmas.
Young said he does expect further cuts of the firm’s 18,000 New Jersey-based staff, but isn’t sure about how deep they will be.
"Yet again, we’re looking to minimize that number," he said. "We use layoffs as an absolute last resort."
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