Isn’t it time for some super-managers at the higher levels? AT&T can then collapse the multi-levels of hierarchy. They shouldn’t need all the office assistants, staff support when they should be capable of handling it themselves. They expectations for technicians is to be all and do all, same should apply to management if they are serious about transformation.
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The vision is already in plain site cuz I'm already a super tech and have been one for years now and I do plan on retiring...someday!
By the time someone has all the necessary skills and experience to be a super tech, it’s time to retire. Good luck with that fantasy.
Get ready. The vision of a super-tech is coming to fruition. Won’t be long now.
"Also, be available 24/7 everywhere, when something fails due to lack of maintenance."
I work M-F 8 hours a day.
No forced overtime over in my region.
I water my batteries regularly with a lawn sprinkler, remove the tops and let the sprinkler do its job, easy money. I also noticed the A & B racks are starting to separate, they can’t seem to get along maybe I should bring in a couple of D racks for inspiration. Meanwhile, per your suggestion, I tried to do some single cell readings but find those Amoebas are small and hard to corral in those small openings , any tips?
As Red Green used to say, “If the woman don’t find you handsome, they should at least find you handy” and “if it ain’t broke you aren’t trying”
Round cells, the old Lineage by GNB last for well over 20-30 years. Keep them watered and check the post for separation and do single cell readings.
MCT and Blue Tops crack and self drain
Power Tech at that time should contact EHS for a vender to come and drain and strap around
Then update the 4 hour. Should always have a minimum of 4 hour battery reserve
If an office is BOD with the engine running that is a major problem
KW and AMPS ya gotta know math
Not all the personnel in the region i work in are really qualified
A Comm tech is a Comm tech
Management cares when things get to FCC reportable
Cracked batteries are a huge issue. Someone will write a COER a request to replace the cracked batteries. Months go by and it gets approved, then a year or so later the funding gets approved.
Then months later the work gets done.
Nothing a power tech, et or supervisor can do to speed up the process.
Usually it’s the square batteries that crack around 12 to 15 years of life.
It’s rare a round cell cracks and there life expectancy is many decades. Batteries only get replaced when cracked and leaking.
Power techs should be concerned when the building goes on discharge.
A 4 wall only worries about 2 wires a power tech has to worry about every piece of equipment in the building. If the equipment doesn’t work your two wires don’t work
Had a CO power outage the other day and the power team support was calling in a panic asking how long till restoration? Voltage was dropping like a rock and batteries weren’t going to hold long even with the generator running. Luckily power was restored in about an hour by the power company who caused the outage while working down the street.
I have several COs in my area that have cracked batteries that have leaked all over the rack and floor. Some have been that way for over a year. No urgency to replace or clean up spills.
I will have to say in my area of the SE the techs and company have done a decent job of maintaining the power plant, some of the batteries are in need of replacing though.
Just curious. What would make you think some of the batteries need replacing. I know most of them are old, but what criteria is used in your region for triggering a replacement? Not trying to challenge your assessment. We have entire battery strings getting close to 40 years old.
I will have to say in my area of the SE the techs and company have done a decent job of maintaining the power plant, some of the batteries are in need of replacing though.
I supervised a large Dallas office in the 1980's and was given wall to wall responsibiity.
Turns out the power routines had not been done since the 1950's or 1960's.
Had to buy rectifier stacks, balance the 24 & 48v rectifiers, the batteries had strap growth, half of those wouldn't hold a charge, the kn--e transfer switches would not pull and the diesel had a bearing knock so it was never brought on line.
I spent thousands trying to repair the power room while my 3rd line complained about the bills and then I got moved because I spent too much money.
AT&T (the old SBC) plant is in terrible shape. Pencil whipping does not repair anything.
As a CO tech, I encounter many CST trying to work the frame that have NO training. I have two options. I call tell them to go hide and Phuck themselves or I can help them do to Frame Attendant job. I try help them work the frame. I want us all to reach MR75.
And while you are in the basement, look at the size of those cockroaches.
The cockroaches in the basement have names and they are in tribes. I know. I spent way too long on the power crew.
And while you are in the basement, look at the size of those cockroaches. Mamamai
the only outside tech work can do in the CO is frame workshare because of the frame attendant title the yoonyun left in the contract. everything else is protected until they change job title descriptions at contract time.
CO phase out starting 2024. It was originally planned for 2025, but the goal to cut 50% of copper plant will come sooner.
General plan is for real estate to sell CO and garage properties and have space leased to AT&T.
AT&T is allowing the collapse of its copper network, in-part, to remove itself from regulatory scrutiny. A lot of the fiber work will be passed to wire techs / prem techs with the expansion of their scope of work come the next contracts.
in D3 they can do a title 10 move, its the same job title and i imagine there will be plans to make power techs a protected job title like a dudicated systems tech.
one thing for sure, they shouldnt be calling out 4 wall techs for any power work from now on. they should have done this when they were paying them daily standby pay.
They had two volunteers in my group but forced two other technicians into the positions. It appears my management picked the two lowest performers. Apparently, power had no choice who they got.
Wake up co techs the end is near for ET work. Is there any info or rumors of ET cutbacks other than being moved into power, frame share and DEG coming inside to do your work?
Power Person at Apache more like parking lot attendant
Never seen that person working
I am not a diesel technician
But I work around diesel engines
I am not an electrician
But I work around electricity
If a battery pucks on the floor, I am responsible
I must know the basic flow of the A/C thru the office
I must carry coolant up four flights of stairs to the 200 gallon radiator system
I must know the rotation of the commercial power into the office
Throw 4/0 cable
Carry 8D batteries
I can go on
And T is cheap
Upper management always ask why there is 100K that needs to be spent
What I’ve heard is they are asking for volunteers haven’t heard of anyone being forced yet here in the SE. I assume if they can’t get their number then they will open it for people to apply.
if you have small group you are safe but if you have a large you are not safe.
I’m glad the power group is taking it back and in GA they asked for volunteers so no one was forced.
In the SouthWest. The company has waffled back in forth between having a dedicated power crew and trying the 4 wall CO approach. I assure you, no CO tech with more than 1 or 2 offices has time to deal power routines. Every power plant is different. Take yourself down into the basement and look at the Switchgear, the battery plant, the rectifiers and the backup generator. Make sure you know it all top to bottom. Make sure you know when to fuel the backup generator and how to do it. Also, be available 24/7 everywhere, when something fails due to lack of maintenance. There are also these things called "storms". They cause some problems with the power. Sometimes the power is out for a very long time. Don't worry about though, "leadership" knows what is best.
In the SE they are forcing techs to move to power which I don't think is right.
It’s a leadership decision and no big deal, just going to back the way it was a several years back. Power group is taking back all the power routines from CO group thus they needed more techs to fill those positions and CO needed less. So basically the CO techs won’t being doing the monthly Generator runs, printing the veeder root reports and battery checks. I think for all of GA it only amounted to 6 techs being moved.