Pro-AT&T reader comments

WE SHOULD HAVE GONE ON STRIKE BACK IN APRIL ! WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED ? AT&T MONITORS US EVER SO CLOSELY, IT IS JUST LIKE BACK BEFORE 1984. WHY DID THE CWA BOTHER WITH ALL THIS BLAH BLAH AND GET US OUT ON STRIKE DUTY ?

oh and btw at&t is underfunded when it comes to the employees pensions by 10 Billion dollars. Shows that they're holding their end of the contracts quite well.

Here's what I've been through with 'your world-delivered' thus far...
hired in as a term c-splicer and 'term completed' after 1 year 2 days. recieved commendation from my boss for my hard work, grabbed my final paycheck and was walked out holding my head high.
3 weeks later hired back to AT&T as a term prem tech with my ncs bridged. I'm a card-carrying member but I don't walk around like my SH** don't stink. The two 1st levels I've had always have stated that I know my sh** and I bust my butt everyday. Now granted EVERYONE, including management has their days, we're all human. Now my boss knows I don't dilly dally but I'm on a plan because I do not work fast enough. Most of the reason I'm 'not complying' with the numbers game is because of jeps due to customer/plant/order problems that aren't under my control.Now my 2nd level has me marked as a bad employee because I do my job (installs) right the first time (or try my hardest to). I don't cut corners and management knows this. In the end I may lose my job because I took the time to CARE about the customers because home phone you can deal with malfunctioning, dsl maybe, tv no. I believe that the company needs to decide where the prem tech title is going and bargain with the union appropriately. Most prem techs want to be treated like the other 'core' technicians, same overtime rules, and same sick rules. Most prem techs would stay with the company even as terms as long as we were treated with respect and courtesy by management (with modest pay increase, nothing huge). I was never harassed on the core side on the company like I have been in Uverse. It sickens me that management (who are humans too) can have the heart (or lack thereof) to talk down to their crews and demand productivity out of them with developement. No one is perfect at their job after 1 year shooting trouble and I can't believe what they demand of us after a year with no training for shooting trouble. It's silly. I've been fair to both sides I believe but the union and/or prem techs must make a stance.

PTM for life

You can tell the people that push pencils and the ones that dig lines and climb poles -- As I see it many have complained the union is to blame for GM and others to fail and I believe one CEO of a major corporation si going to work for $1 for the year, how about ole Ralph!!!!!! No comment!!!! How about no sponsoring one sports event and it would pay healthcare for many years but oh no AT&T needs there ball has to be shown everywhere. I can't wait until the managers and CEO is out digging the lines and we expect the same time as we get now and we want 100% no call backs, they need to do at least 2 jobs after 5 everyday and see how they make in the real world. Ask the ones that do the jobs not the ones thinking about doing the job!!!!

TA DA ! THE CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG ! NOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO INVESTIGATE AGE DISCRIMINATION IN AT&T.......BACK IN THE 1970'S, IT WAS WESTERN ELECTRIC IN KEARNEY, NJ. ISSUE WAS MATERNITY LEAVE; THE UNION WON. HOPEFULLY THE WORLD AT LARGE WILL SEE THAT WORKERS WITH SENIORITY DO HAVE RIGHTS. APOLOGIES NEED TO BE GIVEN TO UNION WORKERS WHO FALSELY BEEN LET GO OR FORCED TO RESIGN FOR SOME SILLY REASON.

i am in new jersey....i will vote 'NO' when i get my letter from the Union. I am not happy with the status quo....you management are a "nickel and dime operation". don't you have nothing else to do except monitoring and monitoring us ?

My Supervisor can't do my job! They don't know how.

We can't just go to work and do our job anymore. Its do this, do that, do it this way, and cock your hat to the left, out of the yard in 10 minutes, cones in the middle of your truck, park 100 feet from the road incase someone runs into you. Oooo, and even if you are 1000 feet from the road and an acre of land around you and an airplane crashed into your truck, its still your fault. Get the picture, everything is your fault according to the company.Your not able to think just for yourself, you have to know what others are going to do as this is your fault aswell. No fun to work here anymore, even the smiley face when you do a health check on your gobook is gone!
AT&T are doing everything in there power to make life miserable at work.Pick on this, nit pick on that, you have to have shiney boots, when are you going to lighten up. Life is too short for this crap. Anyway we all end up in the same place in the end, with nothing......

...wait, AT&T pays sick time??

Am I working for a different AT&T than the rest of you or something? Because the last time I got sick, my ass was unpaid. And got an occurrence. And got yelled at by the attendance manager. And, um, didn't get paid!

I get it. All the pro-AT&Ts are delusional. Or managers. THEY must have paid time for sick leave, considering how often my manager is out.

I can see that all of these AT&T lovers are all misinformed or just plain stupid. If companies would have done the right things from the beginning, there would be no need for unions. So don't blame the employees. AT&T showed record profits last year and heading for the same this year, but all of you company butt kissers think that it's all because of upper management and you are willing to pay them millions of dollars, while it's really the worker who is making AT&T successful. But you think that we don't deserve anything for our hard work. You are either very well off or just a moron. Why don't you just quit your job and go to work at a fast food resturant and see how the other half has to live. Union workers are the hardest working and produce a far better quality product than non union workers. Or maybe you rather see your job go oversees.

Unions are for those afraid to work. I have never worked with a lazier bunch of people. They seem to think they are owed something. I work with people that I would not hire on a bet if it was up to me and they laugh because the union protects them. Do not get me wrong as a lot of att employees are hard working and I am prould to work with them. It is those who hide behing the unions skirt that turns me off.

Should have stayed and got your 30 years. AT&T is dumping billions of dollars into U-verse and the "wire-line" infrastructure. I don't believe they would be pissing away that kind of money if they planned to unload it, do you?

I worked for at&t for 27 1/2 years and retired 2 weeks ago. Rumors were that at%t was thinking about selling off their wireline side of the business. I can see now why the company doesn't care if it reaches a new contract with the union. The wireline side has been losing money for several years and wants to dump it. I wanted to make sure I got my pension before all hell broke loose.

"On Thursday, U.S. President Barack Obama criticized as "shameful" the $18.4 billion in bonuses paid to Wall Street executives last year, even as they helped trigger the crisis"

cnnmoney.com

Posted by Anonymous | July 24, 2009 - 9:13am
And what do we get in return is a slap in the face

Is that a direct deposit? Where can I sign up for that?

now I see why you're a core tech

You corperate mafia prics go bck home and look at ur child porn,We(core techs,past,present)made it possible for you to sell wireless service,DSL service,uverse so you can get your share of the profits.And what do we get in return is a slap in the face from you a**h***.We maintain this cable in all increments of the weather away from our family all kinda weird times of the night and weekends and you say we're greedy and whiners.Go to h***

If we settle for this no more core contract.Expanded duties for Premises Technician to include drop work from serving terminal for IP
based services.All I&R will be able to do is pots work,NO MORE ADSL,NO MORE FIBER,They're selling bus DSL and eliminating wireline services If they are already out on a job they can perform work on any technology.AN now what i get from this portion is if they go out to install VDSL OR ADSL they have no synch they can chase they're own trouble?WHAT ARE WE HERE FOR?"COUNTER OFFER-Keep all core work in core move prem techs into core,with bumping rights invoked,a 5.00 raise and in year three move them into service tech status,make all premise techs regular fulltime.

WOW!!! After reading all these comments my mind is just mush!!! I am a 21 yr. veteran of at&t. started out as a line tech. and worked my way up to 2nd level manager. With all the company cutbacks in the last decade.... I am a little disturbed at the direction the company is moving. at&t employees used to be the BEST WELL TRAINED people in the business. But as the cuts came, if I wanted to remain an employee, I took a huge pay cut to level 1 mgr. Then more cuts, And now I am a PREM TECH, making peanuts. At least I am still working. I will say that the company has cut back so much that after I completed the "PREM TECH" training, I felt so unprepaired to do the job, it was a joke. I really did not learn much and when I was sent out on my own, I was lost. Of all the jobs I have done @ at&t, I will say that the prem tech job is the most demanding. Managment rides us like I have never seen from this company before. Every day there is more things to comply with & less and less time to do the work. "MAKE SURE YOU DO THIS, THIS, & THIS" "OH & YOU NEED TO WORK FASTER". "MAKE SURE YOU COMPLY WITH THIS TOO" all while tring to deal w/ an IRATE customer who cant keep his telephone number that he has had for the last 30yrs because of a provisioning issue, or a billing issue, or because the order in wrong, and on and on and on!!!!! all jobs have their bad sides, however I feel bad for the prem techs, Our work load is enormous..... our pay is very low..... we are techs, grunts, salesmen, customer servive reps, IT professionals, ect.,ect.,ect., the list is ENDLESS!!!!!! & managment keeps adding more and more.... prem techs cant even invest in retirment!!! forget pensions..we cant even contribute to 401k.. its rediculous! I just want to work!!! LOL

I can see it now. Before the ink on the contract is dry at&t will sign 10 year contract with Cowboys for naming rights of new staduim.
Randall is a Dallas Cowboy fan and wants to buy the naming rights to the new stadium, so he can hang out with Jerry Jones at the games. Football season is about to start. He wants the name on the side before the start of the season. He's only waiting for the contract to be settled. It would not be a good negotiating move to announce that at&t is going to give Jerry Jones 20-25 million a year. This is why Randall set a deadline and is now in a hurry to get a deal complete. The union only needs to wait.

Posted by Anonymous | May 27, 2009 - 1:38pm

"You have it better than millions"
--------------------------------------------------
Thank you for giving CWA props!

AT&T SUCKS AND SO DOES ITS CEO AND BOARD MEMBERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You said: I have the perfect solution for you. You'll be able to work with happy non union employees. Request a tranfer to one of AT&Ts outsource units. You'll make less than half of what you make now with no benefits. CWA doesn't need people who don't appreciate the sacrifices that have been made to get us what we have today.

NewsFlash sweets: CWA doesn't have me. What a rebuke. You have outdone yourself. I have my own solution: I work @ AT&T, not CWA and I work for myself, not your benefits. I could not care less about your benefits as a matter of fact. You have it better than millions and think you deserve even more, why? because of some outdated, un-needed, over rated organization you belong to? You are entitlement at it's finest, congrats CWA, you have a following of whiners and give me's.

Att's exploitation of premise technicians is appalling. No one deserves to be treated that way, not even management. Give them a break, they need to be making $20+ an hour PLUS benefits to heal their broken backs. Getting an 7hr install at 3pm and working 6 days a week, 10 & 12 hour days all while being threatened each day with: "if you don't do xyz, I think McDonalds is taking applications..," that would be harassment in any other department. No one in this company can say they are getting anywhere near what they deserve. If they are the future of the company, then you should probably stop defecating on them. Hopefully Verizon Fios comes to all Uverse Markets, that way the premise techs can get a good paying job up to par with their skills and efforts towards customer service. They earned the JD Power and Associates award in customer service, NOT ATT management. If you do nothing to keep them and continue to spit in their faces, they will walk away, 1000+ already have in the last 3 years.

I have the perfect solution for you. You'll be able to work with happy non union employees. Request a tranfer to one of AT&Ts outsource units. You'll make less than half of what you make now with no benefits. CWA doesn't need people who don't appreciate the sacrifices that have been made to get us what we have today.

I'm not assuming anything about you. You obviously don't know my coworkers. Taking stress leave for break-ups, gossip, laziness, never at work on time, leaving early, can't spell, can't talk, can't get along. I have no respect for them and that is because they are lazy people with entitlement attitudes. There is no teamwork and my appraisals are perfect. Again, more than they are worth. I make more than I should for the ease of my job but at least I have work ethic. I happen to disagree with you about the greed of CWA. I did alot of research before I got out, starting with the Beck case and continuing on to the lawsuits for posting ss#'s. The CWA is little more than a PAC, and a crooked one at that. We have laws to protect workers and I believe people should get paid what they are worth, just not a union fan. The offer is ok with me.

Posted by Anonymous | May 19, 2009 - 1:35pm
You said,
1. I'm not in a closed union shop hence right to work. You should look those terms up.
2. I'm not here to like my co-workers and they are not qualified.
3. I love my job, I am not the least bit unhappy... just stated the facts.
4. I did not need force, or the union, to want to work here. You see, unlike union members, I appreciate what I have.
5. "people like me" will never make sense to people like you..."

You are assuming an awful lot about me. I also am in a right to work state. I am a card carrying Republican who did not Vote for President Obama.
I wonder why you believe you are so qualified to do your job, but you believe your co-workers are not? I can't help but believe you are the hypocritical one if you think your coworkers make more than they are worth, I hope you believe the same for yourself. I think you need to learn the value of team work and getting along with your coworkers. I believe that is part of your appraisal. I am a UNION Member by Choice and I appreciate what I have. I also know that I worked hard to get what I have and am willing and able to learn and figure out anything the Company wants to throw at me. I truly believe the CWA is not a greedy Union like some other Unions, they do try to work with the Company to be successful, but they also are looking out for the best interests of the workers of AT&T as a whole. I don't know what your job title is right now, but I hope you are really doing your research on what the Companies "Last, Best, Final offer" really was and you are not just going by their little "Highlights Package". In closing I completely agree with you that no one should ever threaten you or harm you in anyway if you feel like you can't support the CWA in this cause.

Did you not realize that if you came to work for AT&T, or whatever subsidy it was when you hired on, you would be in a closed Union shop? Right to work or not? People like you don't make much sense to me because no one forced you to work for a union based company, so why do you put up with it if you don't like the people you work with and they are not qualified? You seem to be the one who is so unhappy with your situation so why don't you do something about it and get another job?

1. I'm not in a closed union shop hence right to work. You should look those terms up.
2. I'm not here to like my co-workers and they are not qualified.
3. I love my job, I am not the least bit unhappy... just stated the facts.
4. I did not need force, or the union, to want to work here. You see, unlike union members, I appreciate what I have.
5. "people like me" will never make sense to people like you...

can anyone tell me why the management are training us occupationals--(new jersey)-record clerks---to do U VERSE---correcting errors via a myriad of databases ?

Managers are complaining about being taken away from their families what about when the sent Uverse crews all over the country side to get it up and running. maybe we should cut there pay to what we make for what we have to do. they don't have a clue whats involved in doing an install,all they know how to do is dump huge workloads on us. if they think they can do it faster good luck. I DO NOT FEEL SORRY FOR THEM AT ALL

Posted by Anonymous | May 14, 2009 - 9:18am
You Said,
"How much do the top dogs of the CWA make and what are there perks? I assume those are within resaon?"

Do you mean reason? This is easy information to find if you know how to "google", It's been discussed on other topics and the executives of the CWA (top 22 individuals) average about 174,000.00 a years in salary plus about 20,000.00 for expenses (perks). Compare that to the executives of AT&T and it's about a 30th of what the average is of the top 22 executives at AT&T for the same year. Union "greed" isn't even close to Corporate "greed".

Posted by Anonymous | May 15, 2009 - 11:01am

Why do you chose to work for a company with a closed union workforce? If you are such a "Proud non union individual" then I would think you should go into management or work for a company that is not unionized. Did you not realize that if you came to work for AT&T, or whatever subsidy it was when you hired on, you would be in a closed Union shop? Right to work or not? People like you don't make much sense to me because no one forced you to work for a union based company, so why do you put up with it if you don't like the people you work with and they are not qualified? You seem to be the one who is so unhappy with your situation so why don't you do something about it and get another job?

I'm so glad I'm not in this flock. Proud non union individual. First of all, do some research on the corruption CWA has a history of. Start with CWA vs. Beck, then look at pending lawsuits. Union stewards have no clue about any of them.. and they are "representative"? ha. As bad as DC. The Union does NOT care about the employees anymore than the company does. They have an agenda and their politics are revolting (got a "D" by your name?). They are little more than a PAC who happen to have a contract with the company I work for. Card check, national health care, etc. We have laws now days that protect workers without membership fees. The company at least has a reason for not caring ... they are in business to make profit. Everyone forgets that. It's called capitalism. The union is just hypocritical and the members are being played like a fiddle. I work with people that are not qualified to shovel manure in a petting zoo. I work with people who take "stress leave" because of a break up, who never show up, whose favorite saying is "That's not my job." There is no work ethic.. and if it was not for the union they would be gone. These people, especially hand me down (generational) union members want posiitions, not jobs. 1.Health care is not a right, for the record and the freedom card is a tad dramatical here. lol - 2.Henry Ford gave us the 40 hr week, not unions (people repeat any bumper sticker they see) 3. You already make more than you are worth. 4. SAVE. It's really important. After 20 years if your house is not paid off, it is because you are irresponsible with money. 5. LEAVE. If you don't like it. 6. STRIKE. And if you touch me when I'm crossing that line, I will prosecute you to the full extent of the law. I know right to work laws, any threats and I will also sue the union. You're a bunch of bullies who don't deserve half of what you already have. Your entitlement attitude makes me sick.

And apparently they don't care if you know how to spell either, or use structurally correct sentences that have proper punctuation where needed. I presume a high school education is not part of your job requirement?

Oh wow, you're kidding?!? Randall Stephenson actually HUNG UP on someone??? Well, DUH!! News Flash here people! Of course he did. That's what you do when you're finished talking to someone on the phone... YOU HANG UP!!

Oh no, now I'm a bad person too because I do that all the time once the conversation is finished.

How much do the top dogs of the CWA make and what are there perks? I assume those are within resaon?

The issue is this. We are just a bunch of worker bees. That goes for managers and craft. People in this country-not just AT&T sit around in fear of what the state of this economy is going to do to our jobs and our families' futures. So, does craft sit and wait for CWA to eventually agree to a substandard contract - out of varied economic fears? Does management remain in a holding pattern for the coming months hoping they can actually take some of their, dare I say it, "earned" vacation with their families this year? It's a mess, and it's going absolutely nowhere. I'm not sure if anyone remembers when AT&T let practically everyone go, managers and craft, back in the 90's and stock was trading for as low as $8 per share. Anyone who works at the "New AT&T" can tell you that our business, while profitable, is spiraling out of control when it comes to it's people and work processes. I say rock the boat! I say have a strike and change the status quo. Make it uncomfortable for the whole of AT&T. Then contract talks will progress with more speed and more compromise.

The CWA website says that the CEO Mr. Randall Stevenson hung up on the vp of district 6. I haven't hung up on anyone since grade school.

Where is all the money going? people still pay their phone bill. the clecs have all gone under.. most managers pay a lot for lousy healthcare. supplies, trash removal, office supplies, security, landscaping, etc are all things of the past. i know the company says "we reinvest it" but it sounds to me like they reinvest a lot of money in their pockets.. it's the people on top of the company and union that are making a lot of money. it's the little people on both sides (both union and mgmt) that get screwed. they do a great job of pitting one side against the other every deadline.

John T. Stankey; President and Chief Executive Officer, AT&T Operations, Inc.

He made over 5.5 million last year!!!

people.forbes.com/profile/john-t-stankey/8128

And let us not forget the HUGE bonuses that the auto workers got every year for a very long time. 2 of my neighbors worked for Jeep here in Toledo and one year they both got a bonus of $8,000 !!!!!! have we EVER seen anything close?? Not in my 30 years!

I have been a loyal AT&T customer for the many years. I have my DSL and home phone and cell phone service all through AT&T. Every single time I contact AT&T for any need, the customer service reps have been EXTREMELY helpful and polite. When I've had the repair out to my house, it was prompt professional service. NEVER a single complaint about any AT&T service so far.

I would have never given one thought to contract negotiations though, until this year. My boyfriend whom I've only been with a couple years now works for AT&T. He works hard. He is proud of the job he does every day. He is worried though about losing so much on this contract. I don't blame him. ESPECIALLY when it comes to OT! He has been on OT and out of town for the last month. It's been a real strain on a relationship when your partner isn't even AROUND. For AT&T to force OT is unfair and unjust to families and marriages and personal relationships.

He knows some concessions will have to be made, and the fact that he might retire with no healthcare at all is really scary to this man. There is no reason that AT&T should eliminate this, when they can find other areas to cut then from healthcare and wages for the people who are out there doing the actual work to ensure that we AT&T customers have service, no matter what the time of day, no matter where, and not matter the weather conditions. They deserve all they've worked hard to obtain and it should not taken from them!!

I hope that this can come to an end quickly. The uncertainty is not fun.

it sounds like you are very hopeful that we dont go out. the majority of management that i have worked under my last 20 years has no clue how to do our job, my first 10 were professional and training was first rate. you chose management and you knew what you were getting! most of us do not want to strike but eventually someone has to stand up for the middle class or we will all sink together and that includes YOU! so what if we want to have a little fun and take the stress out of the situation, dont be jealous, just hope you dont have to try to do our jobs per my manager there is no way in the world it can happen!!

You will NEVER stike and AT&T knows it! Your "mobilization" is pathetic. Honking horns, rallies, etc. amount to nothing more than high schoolish pranks. Give me a break! You will get no more than high school kids get when they demonstrate against bad cafeteria food. GROW UP LOSERS!

A little more proof. No Updates on AT&T's own bargaining website since this little Q&A update.
Questions and answers added April 14, 2009

Q: What are the ramifications for an employee who does not want to
participate in the strike, should one be called for? – MB; Southfield, Mich.
A: There are no penalties from AT&T if a bargained-for employee makes the
personal decision to work during a strike. There may be ramifications from the
union – but that is a question for the CWA to answer.

Q: If an employee is not a member of the union and there is a strike, will it
be safe for him or her to turn out to work and not be harassed by other
striking employees? – JB; Houston, Texas
A: This is a personal decision and you have the right to work during a strike.
The safety of our employees is always a priority.

This is a classic UNION BUSTING technique! Divide and conquer. It's so obvious it's pathetic.

Posted by Anonymous | May 5, 2009 - 3:15pm
You asked? "Who has ever said that AT&T is trying to bust the Union? Who said it??? - the CWA is the ones saying it. Of course they will tell you that. You saps will believe anything they tell you."
AT&T has said they are trying to bust the union by the way they have handle this contract negotiation. It started when Mark Royce, right after Verizon and CWA settled their contract in August of 2008, announced to every employee that we shouldn't expect as good a contract as Verizon agreed to because Verizon was no AT&T. It continued when AT&T came to the bargaining table not willing to bargain but demanding take backs on every aspect of the existing Contract. And it continued when they couldn't explain the cost savings they expected with there health care proposal. They have been using all the classic UNION BUSTING techniques in this negotiation. That is why it appears they have hired the services of a UNION BUSTING FIRM. The facts speak for themselves.

Who has ever said that AT&T is trying to bust the Union? Who said it??? - the CWA is the ones saying it. Of course they will tell you that. You saps will believe anything they tell you.

If we only made $16.00 an hour you would only make $17.60. lets all take the same pay cut!!!

We the union works are the ones who spend money in the local diner corner, store or bar. We are the community. You talk about your bonus or wage freeze just because you made a choise in life that is not paying off now does not mean everone should buckle under and give in. You say the average worker pays 34% Randall pays zero and he is the one putting the squeeze on you not the union workers.

Why are you, (MANAGEMENT) so Angry? My goodness! Is it the thought of those long hours without pay during a work stoppage that scare you, it should, Or are you that upset over the amount of Health Care that you are currently paying, that you feel the only solution is for the employees to pay for their health care. I'm sure at the end of this year's bargaining we will have given up even more concessons, as we always do. The question is, How much do you want us to give?

Mr. Stephenson and AT&T you might be in for a long ride, if you're trying to bust up the Unions right now!

We are aware of the economic times, and at every Contract end, we make huge concessions in order to reach an agreement with at&t. I knew it was going to be a rough ride with at&t because of the contracts expiring...all I can think about is how AT&T fired their workers years ago during the company split.....Well, get ready, because AT&T never plays fair when it comes to bargaining. I've seen it all, been with the CWA though the Michigan Bell days, then the Ameritech days...have fought through the SBC days and now here we are with AT&T not pretty!