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AT&T Downsizing Jeopardizes Quality Service, CWA Charges
The Communications Workers of America is in discussion with AT&T over the proposed downsizing of 2,400 to 3,000 technicians who maintain the AT&T network nationwide.
The company has made no public announcement and CWA currently has not been given details about exact locations and jobs to be affected. Discussions, however, are continuing.
AT&T's move seriously jeopardizes service and puts the integrity of the network at risk, said CWA Vice President Jim Irvine, who is responsible for CWA's day-to-day operations with AT&T.
"AT&T is talking about eliminating half, or more, of the skilled technicians who maintain and monitor the AT&T network nationwide. Clearly, losing this many skilled employees will have a detrimental impact on quality service. AT&T already has cut its workforce to the bone. Now it proposes getting rid of the very people responsible for AT&T's reputation for quality and for generating a 39 percent increase in first-quarter profits this year.
"When AT&T purchased cable giant Tele-Communications Inc., we hoped that AT&T would elevate the inferior quality of the cable companies. What we didn't expect is that AT&T instead would lower its own standards as it continues to invest tens of billions of dollars in an effort to dominate that industry.
"But that's exactly what's happening. By cutting the jobs of the skilled employees responsible for the high quality service customers have come to expect, AT&T is degrading the quality of its network, the morale of its employees, and above all, a reputation that made it among the most profitable companies in the industry."
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The company has made no public announcement and CWA currently has not been given details about exact locations and jobs to be affected. Discussions, however, are continuing.
AT&T's move seriously jeopardizes service and puts the integrity of the network at risk, said CWA Vice President Jim Irvine, who is responsible for CWA's day-to-day operations with AT&T.
"AT&T is talking about eliminating half, or more, of the skilled technicians who maintain and monitor the AT&T network nationwide. Clearly, losing this many skilled employees will have a detrimental impact on quality service. AT&T already has cut its workforce to the bone. Now it proposes getting rid of the very people responsible for AT&T's reputation for quality and for generating a 39 percent increase in first-quarter profits this year.
"When AT&T purchased cable giant Tele-Communications Inc., we hoped that AT&T would elevate the inferior quality of the cable companies. What we didn't expect is that AT&T instead would lower its own standards as it continues to invest tens of billions of dollars in an effort to dominate that industry.
"But that's exactly what's happening. By cutting the jobs of the skilled employees responsible for the high quality service customers have come to expect, AT&T is degrading the quality of its network, the morale of its employees, and above all, a reputation that made it among the most profitable companies in the industry."
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