Pro-CWA union reader comments - Part 2
I think what bloggers aren't getting, is that, yes, our jobs our stressful, as all jobs, however, to see how the company treats their customers, is appalling. The sad thing is, most customers don't know they are being screwed, on their bills. The customer doesn't know our true rates, promotions, etc. We are trained to not divulge all the customer's options, on their services. We swindle customers, financially, without their knowledge, and when there is a problem - good luck finding somebody that can help. Customers call in daily to reduce their monthly rates, due to the economy, we are purposely instructed never tell the customer what their botom line can be, we must "bundle" and tell them we can't reduce their bill anymore but sell them more stuff and lock them in for a commitment. Also, the sales agencies are able to offer better discounts, than the real call centers. The customer is at a disadvantage if their call routes to certain call centers. The union employees have a contract that states we will get fired if we "cram" a customer, the sales agents dont - so they cram away. We're trained to act like we're doing the customer a favor. Many of those customers stated they will leave AT&T if we cannot reduce their monthly rate. I wonder how many landlines are being lost due to just not being able to give the customer their lowest option. The company is so greedy, they rather try to get more, than save the customer some money, then loose the entire line to a competitor. All the landline lost, I think we wouldn't loose so many if we just treated our customers better.
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"AT&T has made a mountain of money--and polished its reputation--during its partnership with Apple and the iPhone. But pundits are saying the love affair between the two may be on the rocks after Apple essentially snubbed its U.S. partner during the coming out party for Apple's iPhone 3G S at its Worldwide Developers Conference yesterday.
AT&T has never been a favorite of iPhone users, who consider it to be monolithic and a throwback to the old-style carrier model. Its network is so-so at best, and its customer service can be a nightmare to navigate. Yesterday, Apple read off a list of carriers supporting iPhone tethering. Missing? AT&T, which also won't support sending photos as SMS messages until later this summer. Even the mention of the telecom drew boos from attendees."
sounds to me that randall is going to get his clock cleaned because he obviously doesnt know the value of customer service and addressing the network issues that we have been stating needs some attention...I bet he wishes he would have listened to the techs and treated us better when AT&T lose the iphone to verizon with apple...
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Are you kidding? That is what union members consider professional, The union has lots of issues with the way this "Last, Best, Final Offer" was presented! Talk about unprofessional, the way Randall wouldn't even meet with the district leaders!I found his response fairly juvenile and he and Stankey could not be taken seriously whatsoever. It took over three weeks to respond because they where collecting Stankey's letter, which took alot of credibility out of any message the Company was trying to deliver. It is also factually incorrect, All the Company present was a Highlights package or propaganda! I know no members that contacted our local asking for a vote. Andy Milburn only heard from one member, Because he is listening to the membership. The union leadership is not guilty of anything except standing up to the poor leadership of AT&T. The union leadership would never let this pathetic offer go to a vote. They truly know what their members want, and they knew if they let this go to a vote and the membership would not only shoot it down, but would question their credibility as bargainers, which they don't have to do now because they knew better and they represent the true voices of the membership! The petitions are what everyone cares about. It is obvious that the only reason we have not seen a vote on the Last, Best and Final offer in District 6 is that the Union Leadership is knows that the membership would never vote to ratify it. So once again, union leadership shows that they are representing their membership much better then AT&T treats their employees. The Company is hypocrisy at its absolute best.
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I think the point I have seen being made is that AT&T made those great profits with the existing Union contract in place. Why is that so hard for you to understand? There is no real reason AT&T should have to change up the current contract benefits or pay as far as I can tell. If they would have simply set out about the same pay structure and increases in co-pays over the life of a new contract (5 years lets say) and allowed the people that are ready to retire the opportunity to retire, they would have more then likely been able to reduce the workforce plenty and been able to bring in new employees under the new terms they have in place right now in the current contract. All I see happening right now is an attempt to either break the union, or just plain Corporate greed or both.
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I'm a union member and I am proud of how the CWA is standing up to AT&T. My union is just giving me detailed bargaining reports. They are prepared to negotiate around the clock. All they do is ask for the stuff they know is important to the membership, even if it will take a while to get.
I am loyal to my union, my union is loyal to me. When all is said and done I am proud to work for the company. I may not like the way AT&T is handling these negotiations, but at least me and my family are prepared for what ever the CWA needs to do to secure a fair contract. My family will be eating however long it takes.
Comments
Posted by Anonymous | September 1, 2009 - 9:10pm
Well, for some of us Terms, we were told by the local supervisor " Do your 1 -2 years and you'll be made permanent. Its like a training of sorts. " Nice, only to find as a term and a year in service, you have no future, only to do your time, then off to another city or the unemployment line. I left wireless for this very reason. Lord knows I wouldn't want to take someones job, I just wish they had been honest, then folks with famalies wouldn't waste 2 years of their life for something that never comes. Especially when you tell your kids your not going to have to move again.
Posted by Anonymous | July 12, 2009 - 7:55pm
the union does not have the willingness to strike and the company knows it. Think ! it's July 12 and the union has just about given up on it's strong language. The Bell South contract is due August 8 and unless the union grows a pair it will be what ever the company gives.Look at the management medical if you want to see what it will be like. The offerings have been tied to pay level. Guess what the average member will have to pay. everyone thinks the low number when it will be the max co pay.
Posted by Anonymous | June 10, 2009 - 11:43am
well at&t, you're at it again. it took judge green to stop you the last time. everyone to you were a joke. the bell companys were the way to go. but through the years and aquisitions your name is back in the picture. your corporate greed is going to cost you more this time.
why cry about the landlin e loss? the truth is you have a product to sell over those lines but you want to get the bull crap contracts signed before you get serious about selling uverse so you don't have to share the profits. you want to cut cost? eliminate the 1st level manager! they can't even get us a tool without their bosses signature. they are nothing more than a glorified babysitter! i know upper management couldn't impress as many people without all the damn conference calls but just think, the second levels could actually do something for a change. maybe they could learn how to turn a screwdriver instead of sitting on their laptops all day. try doing our jobs and then tell us what we desrve. when we split before, alot of people told me they were glad to have illinois bell instead of at&t because at&t sucked! Well guess what.....they're back!!!
Posted by Anonymous | May 16, 2009 - 9:50pm
Oh my goodness, Tell me how long you have worked for ATT? I am sure that you most likely did not have to ever walk a picket line so that you could enjoy the wages and healthcare you currently have? Do you honestly think that the company that made so much money this last year and continues to make profits give their employees increases in wages, pensions and healthcare out of the goodness of their hearts? No you are working at a high paying job because of the union.
Perhaps if you read the history of unions and CWA you would understand why their are unions.
The more we give up the more that will be taken from you.
There are millions of people who earned the right to keep their retirement, their health care and you should stand with the union so you keep your job because if you do not have a union, you could be fired just because your current manager does not like you Educate yourself before you tell your union to stop fighting for you NO GIVE BACK! The retired folks gave you what you enjoy today appreciate what you have because if you think take backs are ok realize this will be only the beginning you may end up with no pension even if you work for 30 years!
Posted by Anonymous | May 15, 2009 - 3:02pm
Never have I been more embarrassed to be a Union member than now. Look at the new, read the papers "brothers and sisters"... Unions jobs are being lost by the thousands because of years and years of our overindulging Union Leaders demands that we make top dollar for doing somewhat everyday tasks. All I want is a job making a fair wage and fair benefits. Take the offer and let's move on before we all lose our jobs because of our Greedy Union Leaders. The company will not give in this time, especially when our Union leaders act so unprofessionally. Shut up, save face, and move on.
Posted by longtimeworker | May 13, 2009 - 5:50pm
Union employees have made this company a corporate giant and we continue to do the jobs that create revenue, reduce expense, and keep this company legal. The ratio of profit for managers and upper level officers far exceeds any small raises or bonuses we receive. Their perks are monumental as compared to regular employees. They need to rethink their strategy..the all at the top and non at the bottom scenario. Union workers have taken less pay in the past to keep their benefits...namely health care. Now this company refuses to even negotiate on retiree healthcare...This company needs to respect their retirees and their employees who do the jobs that make this company a Fortune 500 player. It's time for our legislators and President Obama to exert pressure on AT&T to give us a good contract. This company can't wait to get into the Middle East and to Cuba to offer goods and services..Our executive and legislative branches can use these as leverage tools to force this company to share it's enormous profits with their dedicated, skilled workforce...
Posted by Anonymous | May 7, 2009 - 11:42pm
I used to work for Ameritech (now AT&T). I was a unionized employee and in retrospect, it was an eye opening experience. I had a solid job for two years with the phone company and outperformed most all of the senior unionized laborers. I got harassed for putting too much effort into my work. Ultimately, I got laid off because I wasn't high enough in the pecking order when the first of a series of layoffs ocurred approximately 7 years ago. In the end, I went back to school for 5 years and now am an engineer and live a very productive life by my own choice. I have no sympathy for unionized laborers whatsoever. The fact of the matter is that most sit in their trucks when it is -10 out and complain about how hard they have it...while people like me are out doing their work. You are unionized "laborers"... so get to work!
Posted by Anonymous | May 4, 2009 - 2:03pm
You guys will never stike. Keep throwing your horn-honking tantrums and making empty threats like a 5 year old. You must be so proud. I think it's time you went to the corner for a 'time out'.
Posted by Thumper | April 28, 2009 - 3:22pm
Does anybody remember the "SPIRIT OF SERVICE?"
The Great Blizzard of March 1888 during which Angus A. MacDonald is shown patrolling the Boston-New York Main Line (open wire toll) in West Boylston, MA. is a singular event that convinced Angus Hibbard of the need for developing a meaningful symbol reflecting the “SPIRIT OF SERVICE.”
That sure wasn't an executive in those snow shoes during the blizzard.
If you are not familiar with it do a google search on AT&T Spirit of Service, Angus McDonald.
These new executives would be trying to get Angus and his crew to take a pay cut. During any storm or natural disaster you can see the Spirit of Service living on in the current day CWA workers.
Thumper
Posted by Thumper | April 28, 2009 - 3:08pm
The point is that we cannot keep allowing AT&T to take our jobs away by hiring term employees. Term employees should be made permanent. The reason we fight to make them permanent is to take away the companies incentive to give our work away. Then and only then will AT&T have an incentive to keep us doing the work instead of hiring term employees. The logical outcome of term employees is ALL term employees and no permanent ones.
Posted by Anonymous | April 28, 2009 - 1:46pm
I don't think that we should be fighting for the term jobs . When they were told that there jobs could be for 1-5 years. Sorry to say
Posted by Anonymous | April 24, 2009 - 11:41am
This is the bottom line...
Healthy companies like AT&T can lead the
country toward better times by maintaining good jobs in U.S. communities and bringing work back from contractors and overseas.
Posted by Anonymous | April 23, 2009 - 4:20pm
Our CEO and top executives are not behaving any different than all the other greedy CEO slumballs we see on national news. I would like to see Randall and his greedy practices exposed to the nation too. I used to be proud to say I work at SBC/Cingular/AT&T but not anymore. It's extremely sad to know that our top level executives do not care one bit about the employees.
Posted by Anonymous | April 18, 2009 - 12:03pm
AT&T made OVER $12 BILLION dollars profit last year - with executives receiving $30+ in BONUSES - that bonuses on top of out-landish salaries and expense allowances, cars, etc. etc. etc. we're the lowly working joe that just wants to keep what we have! Don't take away from retirees or future retirees! Not when your company is PROFITABLE! We are not talking about a company losing money and in trouble - why should the lowest guy on the totem pole have to be the one to "give" it up!?!?!?!?!? We are they ones doing the work and making the money for the executives and shareholders!
Posted by Anonymous | April 17, 2009 - 11:22am
AT&T will hopefully prevail and squash the Union...they are just all weak threats anyway.
Posted by Anonymous | April 14, 2009 - 1:13pm
I have been on both sides of the fence I started out as a Union member with AT&T, Pac Bell, SBC,and at&t again.I can see why the union members are so mad. Don't forget part of the 13B profits were from the downsizing after the merhgers and retirement. Union workers now make more moneies than 25% of the managers right now.Where can you find a company right now who will train and provide you the equipment do do your jobs in Customer Service or outside techs. I have worked with some great employees on both sides. With the current retirees pension and healthcare future retirees comming up. that puts a strain on the company. It is to be expected to outpace spending budgetsi n the next 5-10 years.
Posted by Anonymous | April 10, 2009 - 6:14pm
I AM RETIRED AT&T. 32.6 LONG YEARS. WHEN WE SPLIT IN 85, SBC WAS THE PLACE TO GO. SBC BOUGHT ALL THESE COMPANIES THAT WERE IN THE RED. WE WERE THE MONEY MAKER. THEN TO TOP IT OFF, WE HAD TO GO AND BUY AT&T. AT&T NEVER CARED FOR IT'S WORKERS. AND AFTER THE SPLIT, THEY CARED LESS. BUT THEY FORGOT WHO GOT THEM WHERE THEY WERE/ARE. THE UNION WORKERS. I DOUBT MR. BIG WIG EVER SAT AND HAD CUSTOMERS TELL HIM WHERE TO PUT A PAY PHONE, OR INSTAL IN AN ATTIC WITH IT BEING 105 DEGREES OUTSIDE. OR MISS HIS KIDS EVENTS BECAUSE AFTER HE GOT TO THE GARAGE, THERE WAS A CABLE CUT. GET A REAL LIFE BUDDY! YOUR WORKERS DESERVE EVERYTHING THEY GET AND MORE. GO CWA!
Posted by Anonymous | April 9, 2009 - 8:12am
I am not in the union and will have to do an installer's job if there is a strike. I don't want to do this, but I have little choice in the matter, I won't give up my job.
Still, I agree more with the union's position than with the corporation's on this. As someone else said, if they cut your benefits, ours will be next. It was the profit generated by the unionized wireline business over the years that enabled AT&T to take over the cellular business and parade around the world stage as honchos. They shouldn't be able to throw out the unionized employees like so much rotting fish.
Pro-company people like to point out that the union's high health coverage is now an anachronism, that most others pay more. That may be true, but that is a trend worth resisting. Until we get Universal Health Care, the employer-based system is what we've got. Weakening it for the union members means they will be coming after the managers yet. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's noticed that our coverage is getting worse year by year. I had to give up my doctor because he could no longer justify staying in United Health Care. Hats off to the unions for trying to fight this trend.
As far of those managers who can't stop yakking about "lazy" union members taking breaks all day long etc. etc. ad nauseam, look in the mirror. I work in IT and I have seen over and over disfunctionality and failure to accomplish the task at hand. The people involved may be working hard but they are not given the tools to succeed. Many are not trained to do the jobs they have been given, and are spinning their wheels. I have seen more projects derailed by project managers who know nothing about the technologies they are managing than I care to remember. And they believe this is the way it should be done - that PM's SHOULD not need to know anything other than managing deadlines.
In IT, managers are often incentivized by how much work they can shove offshore, often regardless of how it impacts the quality or timeliness of the product delivered. I have never seen a manager fired for sending the wrong project offshore, or one who dared to resist sending projects offshore.
In short, I live in Dilbert-land.
The game is rigged, folks.
Hats off to those trying to resist.
Posted by Anonymous | April 9, 2009 - 12:06am
The idea that our jobs are easy is absolutely ridiculous..we are verbally abused by customers everyday, we are evaluated on the performance of the company not as individuals and now that we do not have a contract our managers want to go in the TONEROOM everyday and observe us..something that they weren't doing before the contract expired..we even had the ASD in the TONEROOM..FOR WHAT???..it is ridiculous what we have to go thru in the call center, but not given any appreciation for what we do and what we have to put up with just to close a SALE!!!...we deserve everything our union is fighting for and I stand behind them 100%..IT'S TIME FOR CHANGE!!! and if the company wants to save money tell the CEO'S TO CUT THEIR SALARIES..becaise for our view as UNION MEMBER'S they're sitting behind a computer getting paid very well!! Getting paid very well for OUR WORK!!! WORK THEIR OWN COACH LEADERS CAN NOT DO!!!
Posted by Anonymous | April 8, 2009 - 4:19am
I have been a field tech working for PAC BELL, SBC, and now we're At&t for twelve years. In that time I have really enjoyed my job providing service to our customers. In short, the top management of this company have forgotten that we still are a utility co. From what I see everyday is they really don't care about our customers. It's about the numbers folks and I understand a co. has to make money but the executives at At&t make too much for what they do. The work force has a big part in the success of this co. Upper management does not realize how much. I know I could be more efficient at there job quicker than they could be at mine.
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