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AT&T Decisions Cost Workers, Shareholders
As AT&T announced it was cutting 2,400 jobs, Ralph Maly, CWA vice president for Communications and Technologies, criticized the company for another “in a long line of bad business decisions” shaking consumer, worker and shareholder confidence.
“Our government, business and personal communications need to continue to operate without a hitch,” Maly said. “Downsizing that will affect the operation and reliability of the network is exactly the wrong move for AT&T at this time.”
The cuts affect workers in various job categories, geographic regions and AT&T divisions, with technicians, service representatives, operators and clerical workers all facing layoffs or relocation. Work is being shifted to managers, contracted out, or just not done at all, Maly said.
“AT&T’s real value is not in equipment and customer lists, but in the employees who can keep that equipment working and customers satisfied,” he said. “Unfortunately, AT&T, which had been praising employees for their round-the-clock commitment to restoring communications damaged by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, now is rewarding those workers with layoff notices.”
Maly cited a pattern of bad business decisions by AT&T since 1991 that have upset customers and created billions in debt.
“AT&T needs to convince customers, shareholders and workers that the days of bad decision-making are behind it, and that the company is up to the job of providing and maintaining state-of-the-art telecommunications,” he said.
Meanwhile in San Antonio, Texas, CWA members are fighting to keep their call center, one of only two Spanish language facilities, from being shut down.
Since getting word that their center might close, putting 600 people out of work, CWA Local 6143 has put together an effective campaign of political and community support. The local’s efforts have won the support of the mayor and city council, as well as many state legislators.
Local union officers met with the editorial board of the San Antonio Express-News and clearly made their case.
In an editorial, the paper said, “AT&T representatives should listen to the workers with an open mind” and stressed that efforts by workers to find a way to keep the center open deserve serious consideration.
Since then, AT&T has agreed to meet with community officials and union members to discuss their ideas.
“Our government, business and personal communications need to continue to operate without a hitch,” Maly said. “Downsizing that will affect the operation and reliability of the network is exactly the wrong move for AT&T at this time.”
The cuts affect workers in various job categories, geographic regions and AT&T divisions, with technicians, service representatives, operators and clerical workers all facing layoffs or relocation. Work is being shifted to managers, contracted out, or just not done at all, Maly said.
“AT&T’s real value is not in equipment and customer lists, but in the employees who can keep that equipment working and customers satisfied,” he said. “Unfortunately, AT&T, which had been praising employees for their round-the-clock commitment to restoring communications damaged by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, now is rewarding those workers with layoff notices.”
Maly cited a pattern of bad business decisions by AT&T since 1991 that have upset customers and created billions in debt.
“AT&T needs to convince customers, shareholders and workers that the days of bad decision-making are behind it, and that the company is up to the job of providing and maintaining state-of-the-art telecommunications,” he said.
Meanwhile in San Antonio, Texas, CWA members are fighting to keep their call center, one of only two Spanish language facilities, from being shut down.
Since getting word that their center might close, putting 600 people out of work, CWA Local 6143 has put together an effective campaign of political and community support. The local’s efforts have won the support of the mayor and city council, as well as many state legislators.
Local union officers met with the editorial board of the San Antonio Express-News and clearly made their case.
In an editorial, the paper said, “AT&T representatives should listen to the workers with an open mind” and stressed that efforts by workers to find a way to keep the center open deserve serious consideration.
Since then, AT&T has agreed to meet with community officials and union members to discuss their ideas.