Verizon customers' perception of FiOS, wireless drops as worker strike rages on

As Verizon's (NYSE: VZ) wireline workers represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) continue with their labor strike, consumers' view of FiOS and Verizon Wireless have plummeted.

According to YouGov BrandIndex, consumer perception of the FiOS and Wireless brands have sunk for the first time since 2013, when reports emerged that the telco handed over millions of customer phone records to the National Security Agency (NSA).

In conducting its survey, YouGov BrandIndex measured Verizon Wireless and Verizon FiOS its Buzz score, which asks respondents: "If you've heard anything about the brand in the last two weeks, through advertising, news or word of mouth, was it positive or negative?" 

The firm said that Verizon FiOS saw its Buzz score of 7 drop to 2 in the same time frame.

Likewise, Verizon Wireless' Buzz score was 18 on April 13, the day the workers went on strike, and it is now half of that at 9. After the NSA news hit three years ago, Verizon's score dropped to 1.

Verizon and the unions appear to be far from coming to an agreement anytime soon.

In related news, CWA leaders have called out Verizon on an apparent threat to cut the union workers health care and a proposal to send technicians to work in other locations outside of their home market for 60 days. 

For more:
- YouGov BrandIndex has this article

Special Report: Verizon-CWA 2016 strike full coverage

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