Thread regarding AT&T layoffs

Went to pole climbing, man ho-e entering and ladder compliance classes a few years ago for contingency planning. Thank goodness there was not a strike... high five to you all that do that.!

Just make sure your boots are up to spec. This message might help. https://www.youtubetrimmer.com/view/?v=PJzNUydlQ4I&start=31&end=37
While they might have been sleeping during questionable training, they have worked 12-16 hour days and nights for years because they know the outside plant like the back of their hand. Fooly is the one who thinks they can just drop in with their "Great knowledge about repair" You might have great knowledge about process and that will serve you well. With your knowledge of processes you can avoid much of the accountablity that would come if you were held to the same standard as those that do the job. I'll tell you this for free, much of the documentation we use to do our job is WRONG. Best of luck figuring it out. There is a reason the company hasn't been able to "Bust the Union". Maybe, just Maybe this time will be different. Remember, AT&T paid craft extra to not stay out of work when there was two weeks of paid leave from the Government. I think one or two weeks out on strike might get AT&T to get their mind right. Now go get your phucking shine box!

Op- Regarding your sad little comment about ‘replacements’. The teams who are sent into the field as replacements for strikers have way more than knowledge about repair and processes than you ever cared to learn. Remember you were sleeping in the back of the room in training classes or entertaining your classmates with sophomoric crude comments—kind of like what you do now. And now here you are...Life’s a....!

The first thing the replacement teams need to learn is.

1. Make sure you have a pen and visit hanger.

and practice how to write:

1. NO ACCESS................................................na
2. CAME CLEAR WHILE TESTING.................ccwt

Code anyway you want because the folks your working for don't know anything and with any luck the problem just disappears.

Hey OP. The post is about CP; not your life choices for the job you—yes Y.O.U. decided to take. Now you’re complaining about wearing boots that your work requires. Every prospective employee has a choice—take the job offer or keep looking. If you accept the offer and it turns out the work is too hard or you don’t like the corporate policies, move on. If you’re in a job that offers you less opportunity than you desire....bing, bing, bing....,get educated, expand your knowledge, network and move on.
But that’s too hard, right, for you. Easier to blame those who don’t wear the boots for more than four days for your miserable life...And get on this site to criticize everyone and everything except yourself for your life choices.

Looks like I struck a nerve. Everyone can buy boots, and can afford to buy some more after they give them away. What is unfortunate is when you have to wear them for more than 4 days. That's when the heart attacks and falls from ladders start happening. Oh chit, here you are a +200 pound previous desk worker, making your deliverables on time that your manager will take credit for, while your colleagues keep getting surplused. Remember, Stankey said no one is safe. The company does not give a phuck about you. Oh by the way, try to retire before 1/1/2022 to save your retirement health insurance subsidy, it won't matter though once you are off payroll the company retains the right to adjust benefits to reflect industry "norms". Meanwhile, Kindly do the needful.

I've still got my boots from last year, when I trained, but did not have any strike to go to.

If tapped again this year, I will not even have to buy new boots. I don't expect the job market over the next year to be strong enough to encourage a strike, so doubt anyone tapped will have to do anything more than train.

I made sure my nice work boots would also double as flat-ground hiking boots, so I'm good for this year and beyond, after I MR75 out at the end of the year (saving up my vacation to take it at the very end, so I can make sure all the paperwork clears before the last minute, but still have a 12/31 end date).

OP. You might be surprised to know that during the work stoppage, those of us (L2 and L3) were always paired with experienced, competent partners. What does ‘lower level manager’ even mean? Yes, we bought the boots, which I donated later, and would buy another pair ‘on my own time’ because I can.

Please don’t insult the abilities of women. I was one of those who worked outside repairing residential customers during a short work stoppage several years ago. I bought the ‘special boots’ on my own dime, worked 12 hour shifts, and closed more tickets in a day than the normal average. I had a great partner who didn’t minimize my contribution. And yes, they taught us how to climb poles, and use equipment. And we drove a bucket truck...I’m 5’4 115 lbs. Several other woman were in my in training classes. We all survived and the continuity of the business was successful. Don’t assume that you’re irreplaceable.

This is fun.

Very easy to close so many tickets to "No access" and even more fun to know that you will not be accountable for R-30's. You were equally blessed that the work stoppage only lasted a few days. Since you said you had to buy those boots, I know that you are on the lower rung of "management", as in not an essential employee. You are replaceable, you are a widget..

This is not they days of old. Workers these days don't prepare for a work stoppage. They can't afford a strike more than a few days. Some of us remember when workers all had months of pay in the bank, and a couple months of Strike didn't affect them much. And they could make a difference. And the Union and the company are in bed with each other, so there won't be any suprises.

Legacy T, Southwestern Bell and Ameritech (Midwest) expire in April. Bellsouth is next September. Not sure about the rest, but you don’t have to worry much about a strike. Generally they just continue to work under the old agreement until a new contract is signed.

Please don’t insult the abilities of women. I was one of those who worked outside repairing residential customers during a short work stoppage several years ago. I bought the ‘special boots’ on my own dime, worked 12 hour shifts, and closed more tickets in a day than the normal average. I had a great partner who didn’t minimize my contribution. And yes, they taught us how to climb poles, and use equipment. And we drove a bucket truck...I’m 5’4 115 lbs. Several other woman were in my in training classes. We all survived and the continuity of the business was successful. Don’t assume that you’re irreplaceable.

lol this is probably the reason they keep so many employees around. so they have a bargaining chip with the corrupt unions.

I was always amazed at who they let fill in for the union and who they keep back as "essential"

You people commenting would be funny except for the fact the CP training really lets the company shine in regard of what they think about you. They will expect you to buy a certain foot covering (boot) on your own dime because they think that 1st and 2nd line managment wearing boots is intimidating to the Union rank and file. He-l, they may even tell you demostrate picking up and carrying a ladder 20 or 30 feet at a wire center. ( Don't show that you are out of breath). That will show 'em. Truth is, you will be sent miles away, sometimes to a different State or risk loosing your job. What is that? You work in finance or billing and you are a 50+ female, guess what, you are in a bucket truck now during the strike. I have seen this happen. This company doesn't give a phuck about you. If you do usefull work, you are just a tool, a cost, nothing more than a widget.

Getting rid of unneeded workers. Don't want to have workers around that aren't doing any profitable work.

Yeah who’s going to hold you geniuses accountable for your HPC? Hypocrites!

Last strike duty I was somehow given the assignment of outside repair tech. I was initially horrified, I was an Enterprise Business sales manager at time. But then I heard from my colleagues who were stuck in call centers, handling tedious, though important tasks. I would have been fired if I had to do that work....At least outside repair meant every service call was different....and I mean that in every way.....

Too funny...good stuff!

The last Strike coverage I worked, we received a $1,000 bonus. I worked with an External Affairs director who formerly was an I&R worker, who had worked his way through grad school. We were a good match—a Product Manager (me) who knew zilch but was great with the customers and the old repair tech who actually knew what he was doing. It was a long 4 day strike....I felt that Goldie Hawn in the movie, Private Benjamin. It felt like summer camp for the first day, the rest....misery.

Just take the trip and tell all would be customers the way they treated older employees like yourself and you don't give a f*ck about them because the company didn't care about you. Then retire while you still have healthcare benefits and switch all your plans off T ones to save money.

On last strike that I participated in, they fed us crab legs, lobster and sirloin dinners. Unlocked all of the drink/food/candy machines. Sometimes they told us to eat locally and submit our bills. I drove over to me girlfriends house every day and had desert. Hair pie daily from "noon"er to 3pm. Daily! They paid us management OT and I gave some of the free candy and drinks to some of the strikers. Let them into the buildings to use the restrooms.
I miss the good old days.

Seriously...We ate steak and lobster every night. And remember those nights at the Four Seasons Hotel...ahh, yes the good ole days!

Miss the good old days of gourmet meals and overtime!!