Thread regarding AT&T layoffs

D9, which office?

They’ll have more takers than they did in the spring if they offer even a small nudge like 1+1. More takers still if they wait until January and folks can see the end of year interest rates. More still if they bump it to 50k vs 25. Curious how serious they are.

“ Agencies, military and emergency services still use copper as a backup and because it’s more secure than IP that can be hacked.”

What percentage of our business is used by this? As long as major fiber issues are resolved by core techs there will be a need for this skill set. However in a lot of the mixed crews the core techs have to pick up prem work to stay busy. In fact, if a core tech leaves for whatever reason, they are usually replaced with a Prem tech if possible. My area has been fibered for awhile and even that work has gone down drastically.

Their stated goal is copper cutover by 2029, the govt has something to say about that. Agencies, military and emergency services still use copper as a backup and because it’s more secure than IP that can be hacked.

Yes the need for as many core techs is shrinking due to technology but it’s not going all going away. The company has already been reducing labor headcount for over a decade through attrition, offers and layoffs. Still need hands on, AI and H1b’s isn’t a total solution.

DEG is past being needed. SLCs and LiteSpans are de-comm’ed.
CO techs (NTEC) replace cards.
CFO said T will be off copper by 2029, so no more switch.
MASTEC doing Mobility work.
Not much left.
Locals will be just officers soon.

My question would be is how would the work change if an office becomes completely fiber. Add to that the potential for offices being collapsed and a portion of the current work being put into the cloud? Know very little about CO work but would imagine it might be similar to what is happening with the outside infrastructure. Need for the more skilled Core techs is decreasing and Prem techs are handling more of the work. Understand some of that process is just beginning but at some point I would imagine the overall skill sets the CO techs wouldn’t be needed.

They offered the same for DEG DT’s and CO ET’s in D3 SE, only CO ET’s were approved for the packages. No DEG DT took the package nor have been laid off. DEG formally DLC has always been the golden children . The company is trying to merge both titles into one which means twice the work for same pay even though they are different jobs and skills. Many more pages of skills and duties in the job description for CO techs.

If the union goes along with this without more compensation, I’m getting out. All they seem to care about these days is seniority and not skills, title, training and experience. So a janitor is able to do the same job as the CEO if they have more seniority, that’s their logic. Work divisions were created for a reason, sorry but not training someone to do my job that took years to learn.

@c2 MSTs and DEG techs will be offered next week, according to our Local president. The goal is to go down in headcount in the DEG group. Both groups have to be offered because they both hold the title "Splicing Technician" and now have the same VP.

ESRO separation benefits is $25000 + 2 weeks pay per year of service up to 53 weeks pay.
Basically someone with 25 years of service could leave with $131450 severance.

@c8 Thank you for the clarification on this topic!

In the context of CWA District 9 and AT&T's 2024-2028 contract negotiations, an ESRO refers to the Early Separation/Retirement Option, which was a benefit to help employees leave the company and was a point of negotiation in the contract. The proposed changes in the February 2024 bargaining bulletin included eliminating the ESRO MOA (Memorandum of Agreement), which would change the layoff allowance for those who move into Appendix A, a section of the collective bargaining agreement.

What ESRO means:
Early Separation/Retirement Option:
This is a company benefit that allows employees to voluntarily leave the company before their standard retirement age, often with a financial package.
Negotiation Point:
The term "ESRO MOA" indicates that the Early Separation/Retirement Option was part of a formal agreement (MOA) between CWA District 9 and AT&T.
Context in Bargaining:
In the 2024-2028 contract talks, the union sought to eliminate the ESRO MOA. This implies that they were trying to remove or change the existing provisions related to early separation or retirement.
In summary, "ESRO" stands for an early retirement/separation option that was a subject of negotiation in the latest AT&T contract talks within CWA District 9.

WTF does any of this mean? Don't bother posting if you are the only one that understands your acronyms.

If you don't understand then you're not in D9. This post isn't for you. Move along.

What job titles?

I would take it, but don’t believe it…

@an Employee Services Retirement Offer. If you work at AT&T maybe read your CWA contract book.

WTF does any of this mean? Don't bother posting if you are the only one that understands your acronyms.

What is ESRO and how does it affect me?