I know our current 5 year CWA contract set us back with inflation of at least 7% every year. We need to insist on a COLA clause and hire GMs negotiating team. I’m sick and tired of jobs regularly being sent to India. And a heath care deductible that doesn’t keep me from seeing a doctor. What is the purpose of my monthly union dues with At&t leaders determined to create bigger bonuses for themselves which hurt Good USA jobs?
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Deflation isn’t bad when housing & rent have nearly doubled in the last couple of years. All other products have gone up substantially too. Wages aren’t even close to keeping up with the cost of living now and layoffs are becoming more prevalent in the professional ranks vs lower paying retail and gig work. AT&T alone has reduced their payroll by tens of thousands the last couple of years and those were good paying jobs.
I believe current headcount is approximately 137k employees, 2018 it was 268k. So a 51% decline in headcount over a 6 year period.
Chart from MacroTrends.net
Interactive chart of AT&T (T) annual worldwide employee count from 2010 to 2023.
AT&T total number of employees in 2022 was 160,700, a 20.84% decline from 2021.
AT&T total number of employees in 2021 was 203,000, a 11.74% decline from 2020.
AT&T total number of employees in 2020 was 230,000, a 6.5% decline from 2019.
AT&T total number of employees in 2019 was 246,000, a 8.21% decline from 2018
Last year 2022 inflation was at a 40 year high and prices haven’t came down very much at all. All my monthly expenses are substantially more than a couple of years ago. Layoffs aren’t helping and my wages aren’t keeping up. Wall St. markets are doing well in 2023 but that is only getting back to even from the worse drop in the markets -20% in 2022, since the Great Recession of 2008.
Most of the current U.S. hires are for retail, gig work and the govt. Companies are still treading water on making any big moves because of the high interest rates and concern for a recession. It’s a lot harder for professionals to find work than a couple of years ago.
"Inflation is at a 40 year high"
Inflation is currently at 3.14%, which is not a "40 year high" & it's expected to further decline back to where it previously was. Another thing people don't seem to understand is that prices are not going to decline, else you'd have deflation which is bad.
Hey OP, I didn't hear your proposal at the last convention. Oh you were not present. That's right. All bark no bite.
“ If the Union core were to strike it would quickly put the company in a big loss, ask auto manufacturers”
Crazy talk….T has an annuity and can survive without the Union for an extended period of time with replacement workers. The auto industry is manufacturing Einstein.
“ The union members won’t train contractors so basically it’s not happening ”
Another ignorant union goof. T doesn’t need you to train anyone, your skills are no different than those of contractors. How is Fantasy Island?
Our union has been strong but appears to be at the mercy of what T does nowadays. Our medical benefits are constantly slipping the wrong direction and most the company is getting up there in age when we need them. Everyone always wants to have a bigger paycheck but this is still one of the few places a GED or high school graduate can make over six figures a year because of how our union. RTO was awesome while it lasted but again proved Sushi and Hector outside the USA can do the same job while making less. I’m voting for a strike when negotiations fail as we all need to be prepared for and maybe after the government steps in we’ll be better than prior to the strike. Retirees, sadly, will be left behind as always.
I say a "Wild cat" strike is warranted in order to motivate T management to compensate the people that are the backbone of this company or face the consequences the auto industry faced! Let's just do it!
“It’s the inflation, stupid”
Inflation is at a 40 year high, everyone understands that when they look at prices for housing/rent, fuel, groceries, eating out, energy, college, home tax increases, etc..
Only the out of touch elite aren’t affected and can’t comprehend why employees are so stressed. It’s a Wall St. vs Main St. mentality. Wall St. thinks everything is wonderful if the equity markets are doing well, they become more enriched. Main St. is looking at how much more it is taking for daily/monthly living expenses vs a few years ago. That’s the rub, why our political elite keep trying to speak about a great economy but people working for a living don’t see it. A huge % can’t cover a $400 emergency if it happens, without borrowing or selling things.
The union members won’t train contractors so basically it’s not happening anytime soon. Stankey has 1 strike left and it better be a home run or he’s out. Playing hardball with the union then failing is not gonna be a home run for him. Safer to make a deal.
"Historically, union contracts have worsened inflation by artificially raising wages without raising production. "
This is totally unfounded and completely untrue.
“Skilled technicians are always in demand” , only they won’t be at T unfortunately.
I just would like to be compensated like the C-suite after poor performances and doesn’t meet, maybe I’m going about it wrong. I thought meritocracy mattered, am I living in a parallel opposite world.
If the Union core were to strike it would quickly put the company in a big loss, ask auto manufacturers how that worked out for them by stalling just for a short time, they lost billions. The other thing the elite don’t want in the news is their insane compensation packages and unequal pay raises highlighted for everyone to see. All while they are reducing benefits across the board, surplussing and off shoring U.S. jobs, except theirs of course, even though it’s much cheaper to employ offshore execs. Hypocrisy!
Skilled technicians are always in demand, especially boots on the ground. Those who physically touch the network aren’t going anywhere long term. Targeted surplus or force in balances have and will always be a part of running the business.
Technology is in constant change, even quicker since the transistor was invented and now wireless, fiber, AI, satellites and nano tech. New technologies will continue to be invented and reshape communications, once you can embrace that then it’s not so frustrating.
Hate to give the bad news to company trolls but there have already been a lot of contracts already negotiated and signed. The union members aren’t going anywhere, will there be technology changes and job loss or reassignment to other positions in the future, then yes. Every hear of operators, coin collectors, etc.. jobs of the past. Union is still here, it’s a niche trade (carrier telecommunications) that has been passed down from one generation to next with constant learning new tech, materials, procedures, etc..
You are uneducated if you think someone just hired off the street or a contractor can do competent technical work without a lot of support and peer to peer training. The company offers very little in-person training, usually one gets high level training on PLE or LOD, detailed and majority of questions aren’t answered there. It takes years to become competent with exception of entry level positions, even those take awhile to learn with assistant.
Union is toast for all renewing contracts. T will send most blue collar work to contractors and put the blame on the debt, market conditions, and needs of the business. Enjoy the next few days of the holiday, 2024 will be even more turbulent than 2023. There is absolutely nothing the union leadership can do to stem the tide of outsourcing, the cows have left the barn.
And you guys are some of the highest paid...lol
Historically, union contracts have worsened inflation by artificially raising wages without raising production. Good luck with that India idea. “Stop outsourcing or we won’t work” isn’t the winner you think it is
Inflation isn't going to be 7% a year going forward.
How do you know what inflation will be? We do know that prices are 15 to 20% higher and wages haven’t kept pace so we need some sort of bigger raise the first year. 5% minimum
If pay is an issue why not look around for other jobs? We don't seem to have many CWA members, outside of Prem Techs, leaving the company due to low wages.
Because we are the most valuable doing what we’re already trained to do efficiently and quickly. Att makes nearly $1 million per employee.
COLA, better than normal raise and retirement matches needs to go way up, 401k match is nearly non existent now. Job security for equipment, transport and I&M needs to be addressed and updated.
No one ever wants to hear this, but it’s true.
From which party is the POTUS from during the years when the overall economy stinks the most and inflation is the highest?
Which party is it that the union always promotes no matter who the individual running is?
Do you see a common linkage in the two ?
The CWA union doesn’t want you to think for yourself. They only want to get paid and they have their own agenda. Stop drinking the koolaid and think for yourself about what is really going on behind the scenes.
If pay is an issue why not look around for other jobs? We don't seem to have many CWA members, outside of Prem Techs, leaving the company due to low wages.
Southwest Airlines union negotiated 50% wage increases over 5 years contract and better retirement benefits. Our retirement benefits don’t exist and are shameful for employees except at the greed levels!
Increases are not to offset the cost of living or inflation rates. Not happening.
I agree with the OP and wish we had the power to collectively bargain a fair contract however the obstacle is that our only power play is to strike and that would be welcomed by the company. If we went out on strike we would be doing the company a huge favor as it would be exactly like we all simply quit. That would financially be like the company just gets rid of us for free. The days of our union power are long gone. Many of us just want to be laid off now while there still is a contract. Sad but true.
The government fudges the inflation data. It is actually much higher in reality.
Inflation isn't going to be 7% a year going forward.
I’ll hold my palms out just like John Stankey for his raises and benefits!