Facts: Unions such as CWA start out as pro worker but end up very soon being a money grubbing good old boys organization that occasionally fights for the b-m that deserves to be fired. Dues monies go to union paid junkets (parties) in places like Hawaii, Las Vegas, Miami. These are facts so keep supporting the “Union” with higher dues to protect the dude working beside you that just shows up and calls that work . 😌
22 replies (most recent on top)
shut up dolt ! unions are your biggest problem? oh ok..get a life
“…no independent isps since the 200’s…”.
Where have you been? There’s independent isps coming out of the woodwork! Some of them are regional, some are “mom & pop”, & some of the electric co-ops are getting in the business as well. They’re slinging fiber down dirt roads out in the sticks, they’re offering wireless solutions placing antennas on top of water tanks & grain bins. All non-union(except for maybe a few of the co-ops), and doing it for way less than what T can do it for. If you aren’t aware of this you are too far behind to catch up.
Yes, I'm aware of the small independent ISP's that require the customer to er--t a tower at their home (on their own dime) and hope for a line of sight to the water tower. Might have a few dozen customers. Don't allow a tree to get in the way! I am also aware of some municipal fiber that is paid for with bonds. In each of these, the backhaul is provided by AT&T or some other RBOC. I was referring to the fact that prior to 2000, SBC, now AT&T, had thousands of square feet dedicated to co-location in the Central offices for "independent ISP's". Those Co-location spaces are now where we move our unwanted office furniture. Not so far behind there sport.
I wonder how many union positions will be targeted on March 15th for the layoff notices? I know that it's one of the scheduled dates for the 1st quarter, but not quite sure if there is a criteria for laying off bargained for personnel other than just a lack of work. Will the company target union members with 30+ years as well, or just the areas of the country where work is lagging?
Im lucky and live in a state that doesnt require me to pay union dues, but still can get their useless representation. Anyone that is attached to the union is useless, they just talk a big game about how they protect you blah blah blah....They dont do sh-t for so I dont pay. Best thing anyone can do is keep notes about your situation.
@1vjw,
“…no independent isps since the 200’s…”.
Where have you been? There’s independent isps coming out of the woodwork! Some of them are regional, some are “mom & pop”, & some of the electric co-ops are getting in the business as well. They’re slinging fiber down dirt roads out in the sticks, they’re offering wireless solutions placing antennas on top of water tanks & grain bins. All non-union(except for maybe a few of the co-ops), and doing it for way less than what T can do it for. If you aren’t aware of this you are too far behind to catch up.
You don’t have to pay dues to be treated poorly by the union and the company. You can do it for free…
Unions cut their own throats with all the deal cutting and constantly getting the jobs back for people who were inept and lazy. Then the president of IBEW 21 traded away 300 locate jobs and allowed them to contract it out permanently….to keep them from closing a center down. Lol…..a year later they still closed it down and we lost 300 jobs!! Thanks Ron K.!! Do you get a suitcase of money???!
In my career I’ve worked in several unions and non-union jobs. Ultimately union jobs have always paid more and had better benefits than the non-union jobs.
Over the decades unions have declined in their power to negotiate. The decline will continue as companies don’t want to contend with some of the nonsense unions bring to the company.
Employees with 30 or more years with T saw the great benefits of the union. Lower tenured employees do not. Unions were always supposed to be a brotherhood but as you can see from posts in this site, that is no longer the case. That is a large part of the issue with unions, they are no longer a group, it’s a bunch of individuals, which makes it very easy for the company to negotiate with. The company knows the union members Weill not remain united like decades before.
I wish I could say that I'll be getting a buyout from the company! I have 40 years of service, however, my business unit is not laying off, it's still hiring even with a hiring freeze in place. I'm a bargained for technician, but the odds of getting a buyout in our group is slim to none!
It is kind of funny to think of all the old school telcom skills, knowledge and experience I've accumulated in my 40 years and how much of it is now outdated. Many of my coworkers, whom all have over 31 years, and myself, are just sliding thru each easy work day seeing how task by task our work is going away, and we all joke around about the upcoming package per contract we believe will happen this year. Our boss has also hinted about it and we're all just hanging out waiting for it. We don't care about the politics or who's sleeping with who, we just care about getting our 104 weeks pay to leave and retire, and then collecting our monthly pensions, 401k distributions and benefits along with social security. So no matter what you say negative about the union or the company, life is pretty darn good for me and my coworkers here in the USA. Of course if it's not good for you, you may consider better opportunities elsewhere. Peace out.
Bargaining power is at an all time low. We aren’t “the telephone company” anymore. The CO switch, sonet muxes , SLCs, & anything on a copper pair T would love to get rid of it & the folks who support it. Wireless & non regulated fiber services(via Specials, Managed CPE, & Uverse) is all T is interested in and they will have a hard time being competitive with all of the independent ISPs that are popping up everywhere.
WOW! this has to be the most ignorant post I have ever seen. There has not been an independent ISP since 2000. We compete with that?? It will be well and good for T to be rid to be shed of you. You have no concept of how the network works. I now understand what Corey Anthony was speaking about when he said we need to shed employees. There is a lot of low skilled low talent fruit to be trimmed.
Unions are nothing more than an extension of the organized crime families of New York and Chicago. Chicago mobsters as well as the New York families are notorious for keeping control of the union's pension funds monies paid by dues paying members. I would venture to say that the Chicago mob has their mitts in the CWA control somewhere in the food chain. Don't kid yourselves, the mob is till out there, maybe not as powerful as it once was, but still out there.
You have spent too much time watching television.
Anyone ever wonder why we’re getting 3% contractual increases when the annual inflation rate is around 8%? AT&T has an army of lawyers and CWA has a bunch of unqualified mooks at the bargaining table.
Stand up and be counted. Go to your Union meetings. Otherwise sit and bi--h like you have always done. Maybe YOU can do better than those "mooks". Take charge. I'll vote you in for Union Rep.
Bargaining power is at an all time low. We aren’t “the telephone company” anymore. The CO switch, sonet muxes , SLCs, & anything on a copper pair T would love to get rid of it & the folks who support it. Wireless & non regulated fiber services(via Specials, Managed CPE, & Uverse) is all T is interested in and they will have a hard time being competitive with all of the independent ISPs that are popping up everywhere.
So many L1s in ACE doing union work. It’s just customer service disguised as building and supporting network.
Unions are nothing more than an extension of the organized crime families of New York and Chicago. Chicago mobsters as well as the New York families are notorious for keeping control of the union's pension funds monies paid by dues paying members. I would venture to say that the Chicago mob has their mitts in the CWA control somewhere in the food chain. Don't kid yourselves, the mob is till out there, maybe not as powerful as it once was, but still out there.
Anyone ever wonder why we’re getting 3% contractual increases when the annual inflation rate is around 8%? AT&T has an army of lawyers and CWA has a bunch of unqualified mooks at the bargaining table.
D3 electronics techs really need a different union. CWA has screwed members that title for years now.
IBEW 21 is right in there…..useless!!
CWA is especially invisible on the mobility side. They only beat the war drums at contract time, but are no where to be seen otherwise.
try working in a non union shop. you won’t like it
Don’t forget that 30+% of the dues go to one political party regardless of their views. Oh it’s the party of Sleepy Joe ! They have been fooling the sheep for decades.