Let’s face it folks, as well as copper has served us all these years, the company is doing everything it can to make it go away, and no job, especially inside folks, are safe. As a technician who has spent his entire career outside with: USWEST, QWEST, CENTURYLINK, and now LUMEN, the end is here. Sadly, a lot of really good people (inside and outside) have been negatively impacted by this, and many more will continue to be as well. Just a little friendly advice from someone retiring in a couple of months, if you are in need of a couple more years to be pension eligible, especially if you are in the unfortunate position of being involved in an ISPP, you may want to consider looking into fiber splicing. There are technicians on the company intranet willing to do a job swap, and take your ISPP and retire. Talk to your local union president, look at the contract ,and see what the company is required to do in terms of: selling your home, relocation expenses, house hunting, meals, etc. If you aren’t in a position to retire yet, this may be an option for you. Good Luck!!
16 replies (most recent on top)
The board today isn't the same board that hired Kate. Just like Jeffy, she replaced existing directors with new friends of Kate.
17 hours ago by Anonymous | 2 reactions (+2/-0)
Post ID: @2tpg+1tnMLvRy
Can you do some homework. Who was the BOD for past 5 year? Their names are published publicly.
"The board today isn't the same board that hired Kate. Just like Jeffy, she replaced existing directors with new friends of Kate"
I think youre confusing the SLT (Senior Leadership Team) with the Board. Of the 11 board members, 6 of them are old white guys...and most were on before Kate joined.
“I know a lot of techs that are willing to do job swaps. But the company said no. That is unless you are one of the special few who got to.”
When it comes to people impacted by an ISPP, it is no longer at the discretion of the second levels or directors. That is when you are put on a 90 job search, and the contract overrides their say. That is something the union can, and will win. However, you may have to relocate to where a fiber tech has a show of interest in for an E-VSPP to get your foot in the door as a fiber tech. Then, if you don’t like where you are at, do your time-in-title and transfer back to a city you do like.
“Over the last 20 years my RCA has gone from 17 union represented employees (that’s net techs, Cot, & design) to Two.
Yeah, I get it. And I could add several more things to your list. I’m not trying to be argumentative with you, it sounds like we’re on the same team. I’ve narrowly escaped several Riff’s myself, and it’s not fun!! My point is if you find yourself in the unfortunate position of a 90 day job search, fiber splicing is a good job skill to have, regardless of if you stay with Lumen or not. Getting back to the contract, there is a whole crew of brand new fiber splicers in Phoenix who were just trained last year. They were broadband techs who were previously surplussed, and the union negotiated getting them back with the company as fiber splicers. So, thank you for not dropping your union card, because in my book, that’s a pretty significant win for those techs who got their jobs back.
Forget the past.
Lumen and KJ will complete the Exit plans soon. If you are still standing after the Exit. Consider yourselves Lucky!
I know a lot of techs that are willing to do job swaps. But the company said no. That is unless you are one of the special few who got to.
The board today isn't the same board that hired Kate. Just like Jeffy, she replaced existing directors with new friends of Kate.
Look at their backgrounds, they're inexperienced diversity hires completely out of their depth. They know if Kate goes, their sweet easy money gig goes as the next guy swaps in his or her pals.
"At some point the Board of Directors will replace KJ, there's only upside from here."
Dont agree. I think Kate is doing exactly what the board hired her to do....oversee an exit strategy. Keep the company moving until they can slim down and prepare to be bought out.
Ept’s and competence is an oxymoron. But this company doesn’t care. Cheap labor, cheap work if it actually gets done. There’s a reason they’re hired 10 at a time.
Buy stock, because Lumen is the company who carries most internet traffic, is not going away any time soon. At just $1 per share it is a great buy and hold stock. At some point the Board of Directors will replace KJ, there's only upside from here.
A lot of wishful what if comments.
Lumen doesn't make wishes come true.
Lumen is in business of making profits.
RIF is the only option left.
“I had a splicing partner who retired a couple of years ago, and he would always say, “You know what, we’ve been losing our jobs for 10 years now, and we’re still here”. The truth is, nobody knows what the company will do next“
Over the last 20 years my RCA has gone from 17 union represented employees ( that’s net techs, Cot, & design) to Two,
I’ve watched the Big metro up the road RCA go from 230 net techs to just
36,
I personally know people who’ve been ISPP’ed out the door who were just a year short of being pension eligible.. and I’ve met contractors who ISpp’ed out the door with 22 years of service..
So Not everyone is still here, these days not everyone survives the cut , not everyone finds a ISPP job swap.. not everyone gets to do the work they want. And not every article of the contract is enforceable, there are lots of letters of agreements that End up invalidating certain sections of the contract.. at this point they can surplus every single net tech and have the EPTs do the work! The union signed off on a letter of agreement around 2012-ish that allows the company to assign higher wage scale work, to those they feel are competent to do the work, the contract is almost ( not completely) but almost worthless these days. And yes I still pay my Dues, but it’s just barely worth it..
“…….unless your pension service eligible in the next 18 months when the contract expires …. You need to be looking for a different career…or be prepared to be here as a contractor…”
I had a splicing partner who retired a couple of years ago, and he would always say, “You know what, we’ve been losing our jobs for 10 years now, and we’re still here”. The truth is, nobody knows what the company will do next. While I don’t disagree with your other points, I think the company wants to have a certain amount of technicians (albeit small) that work directly for the company. The other thing to consider is this: Why not spend a couple of years padding your resume at Lumen, and if things don’t improve go elsewhere. I worked with a younger technician who was here 5 years, then got a state job at a university making a lot more money, benefits, retirement, holidays, etc, and all because of his experience working here. Also, the statements, “Outside technicians should have first chance at fiber jobs” and “Agree. Grievance”. That applies to you as well if you are involved in an ISPP. Don’t get frustrated, get educated - read your contract. I wish everyone the best!!
The company is already utilizing Contractors for classic maintenance activities in regards to both copper and fiber, have seen where I&m locates a cut and contractor are sent to fix the cut, have seen in person where ,what was typically cable maintenance work (my work) work that’s expense vs capital (more or less than one unit of cable ) that has been placed for a sewer drain or culvert placed, ped moves.. being give over to contractors.. because any at this point every old school technician that knows anything about POTS OR DSL, is in the demand load trying to keep the company’s head above water.. with that , please don’t think the young EPTS are lazy or anything.. but the generational gap in technology is significant..,most of the EPT’S have never used a land line, and have no background in electronics, other than their plug and play Nintendo’s… it’s was a poor strategy to rely on legacy products to finance the turnaround to quantum fiber and Bound to fail at this very and probably to late stage of the Game… unless your pension service eligible in the next 18 months when the contract expires .. you need to be looking for a different career.. or be prepared to be here as a contractor..
The company has been trying to get rid of construction splicing for years. Once the current workload drops, they'll do it again.
Agree. Grievance
That’s cr-p. Outside technicians should have first chance at doing fiber jobs.