Thread regarding AT&T layoffs

Term here. Hired over a year ago and union still isn’t taking dues. I filled out the withholding form for them when I was new. Union said don’t worry about it, you’re still covered by them. For free? Am I going to get a bill of I ever need to seek union help?

The Term Employee is an old Business Strategy the Company has used since the mid 80’s. They don’t care about anything but the budget and commitment dates. Terms hire in as 3 years but can be released within 3 weeks prior to their 3 years. The Company will train, send to their work location and expect productivity by their first 6 months. Most permanent Rank and File will not train nor associate with them. The Management will expect the permanent Rank and File to train. Most times the Term will only shadow and observe because the Permanent Employee will not interact. All this makes for a very segregated work group. The Union okay’s this action because they have no say. The Terms will pay dues and be represented like any Union Worker. As an ex Supervisor for the Company I can say the Terms will be motivated and will show to be diligent workers. Most are under the impression that at the end of their Term they can be hired permanently which in most cases is a misnomer. I’ve had many years working Projects and having mixed crews. I can say it’s usually an oil and water situation. I’ve seen it escalate into threats, fisticuffs and gun play. Don’t get caught up in the drama. The last thing you need is the Chief Special Agent conducting interviews of the whole workgroup. Best of luck. Be smart, be safe.

Replying to: @1qag+18NNLXZX

I can tell by what you typed you and I are not in the same organization as we do not work " tickets ". Nor are we behind on any " job functions ". Those of us within my group know our jobs inside and out and typically do work far, FAR outside of the scope of what we're actually required to do. We know, better than anyone, what it takes to get a project done and how long it will take to do it. The problem is those who dream up these projects, don't ask us. They simply assume what we do and make decisions from there. The last project we did took about three years to complete. The next phase is the same type of work, only three times the number of sites. Simple math tells us if X took three years, then 3X = NINE years if nothing changes. Hence the reason they want to bring in Term / Temp employees. So, since you don't know what the F you're talking about, kindly STFU.

Come on, OP I am in your same organization. These temporary employees are being hired because our group is behind on all 3 job functions. The temporary employees will eventually be working all 3 functions. Training, yes they will be given training, you can't show every possible scenario in training, nor should AT&T have too. OP be an adult and use your resources to supplement training. You have half a brain and should be able to figure out how to work a ticket by adding to what you already know.
You don't need to get in a layoff board to vent your disagreements, do your job, shut up or quit.

This has been done for about a year and a half in my area so these guys are half way done at this point. They were hired for ABFS but have been doing OSP mark outs and telco routines for the past several months.

I started as a term tech in 1995, Became a regular after 10 months when a regular job came open. Since they don't have to offers open jobs to terms, seniority is not in play. They can use it as a "rent to own". Several were hired, only 2 of us left

Temp workers in the CO? You gotta be kidding me. Took me a year just to be competent in the central office. And another year to be proficient. There is no way a temp could fill that role without prior CO experience.

Just the Union trying to grab any dues they can

Unions are corrupt and are nothing but middle men.

Temp is up to 1 year. Term is 1-3 years.

I was hired as a temporary employee in 2013. Worked 10 months as a temporary OPT within the company. Then got surplused. Took a wire tech job, CWA Southeast. Wasn’t a contractor. Been here since then.

There is no such thing as a “temp union worker”. They’re contractors. And I’ve hired and placed many alongside bargained for techs over the years, doing the same job. “Needs of the business”...management can hire these folks when they feel they need to (as in the case of workload and staffing concerns you stated here. No consultation with or explanation to Union required.