Thread regarding Comcast layoffs

Time to organize the employees against offshoring?

I honestly wonder why there hasn’t been any serious effort to organize tech employees in the U.S. to push back against offshoring. Comcast has already offshored more than 5,000 tech jobs to Chennai, India, and there hasn’t been a single negative article in the mainstream media about it (NBC probably makes sure of that). I also haven’t heard of any union even attempting to organize tech workers here. Shouldn’t we be coming together and saying: enough is enough?

This company makes its money in the United States. Its customers are in the United States. Its revenue comes from the United States. Yet more and more of the technology is being built in India, and more of the business is being operated from offshore. Why?

I understand that the company isn’t performing at the top of the market and is trying to cut costs. But let’s be real. The company is still making something like $30B in profit. Offshoring doesn’t save nearly as much as leadership claims, and we can do a better job onshore. On top of that, it’s simply immoral to lay off U.S. employees only to hire thousands of people overseas.

I have nothing against India. This isn’t about that. This is a U.S. company, serving U.S. customers, operating almost entirely in the U.S. Yes, there’s Sky and NBC with real operations in Europe, so it makes sense that some work is done there. But there is no comparable business presence in India, and no justification for having 5,000–6,000 tech employees there—on top of significant customer service offshoring to India and the Philippines.

I don’t know much about unions, but call me and I’ll sign up immediately. Why isn’t anyone trying to organize at Comcast? We have to stop this madness.


by
| 1792 views | | 12 replies (last January 7) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+1kdpsp8n4

12 replies (most recent on top)

@17e I know a few hundred thousand truck drivers and longshoremen who beg to differ

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1dj+1kdpsp8n4

@145 no they didnt , they still got automated. the union fees helped pay for re-education though to a new trade.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @17e+1kdpsp8n4

Strong national unions that are well funded work. Everything else gets crushed - union or not.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @146+1kdpsp8n4

@z9 unions prevented longshoremen and truck drivers from being automated and slowed all of the other changes you described so people had time to reskill. So yes unions help

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @145+1kdpsp8n4

@ye oh really?? Did unions prevent manufacturing jobs from going overseas? Did unions prevent auto makers from closing auto plants in Detroit and everywhere else? Did unions prevent the store closure of several Starbucks unionized stores? Unions can promise anything and everything, but they can’t prevent-in writing-company closures or offshoring jobs. I’ve been in a union environment and all they’ve done well is collect union dues from my paycheck. No thanks!

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @z9+1kdpsp8n4

@ct this is wrong and just propaganda from the company to prevent you from unionizing. A union will always have better chances of preventing offshoring due to collective bargaining power.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @ye+1kdpsp8n4

@hd legislation is your best opportunity. Contact your Congressperson every day. Tell family and friends to do the same if they really care about you.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @yd+1kdpsp8n4

This needs to be made illegal. The HIRE Act passing would help a lot. That's the only real fix.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @hd+1kdpsp8n4

You’re right. People are not happy about this, and it’s happening with all current company layoffs under the disguise of AI, mostly. These companies need to be fined greatly or something more substantial for doing this. It’s time.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @dq+1kdpsp8n4

@OP that’s what Comcast wants you to do. It makes it easier for them to offshore jobs if there’s a union. Especially in Customer Service, or Dis-service since all of Care is remote. It’s an easy turn of the switch to send all calls overseas. And please spare me the “but they can’t speak English bs. I worked as an Analyst and there were no difference in customer feedback from internal or outsource agents. Quite simply put, Comcast Customer Service is the worst, and it’s been that way for over 20 years. If Comcast wants to reduce cost, look at internal customer service. They have one of the highest absence rates, attrition, high commissions, and pay compared to most groups. We were surprised when Dave Watson put out that memo in October with “no impact to customer care.” Maybe that’s why he’s been demoted. Customer Care needs to be the first to be reviewed for reduction in force. Just look in LinkedIn at their titles, lots of VP Process Improvement/Effectiveness.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @ct+1kdpsp8n4

Let's be honest; they were going to offshore the jobs if they were doing well or not.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @c9+1kdpsp8n4

let the company fail. don't help. don't organize. don't even teach the new people. The execs will get layoffed and the govern will merge it to another company by force. let it fail. let it fail. don't bother to care. just let it fail

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @a9+1kdpsp8n4

Post a reply

: