Don't join ATS. Dont do it!!

Don't join ATS. It will put them in an awkward place. Many are on to the scheme, that's why no word on it yet. They need more time to package it up in legal terms. They are counting on techs biting the proverbial carrot.

They need the option to scale back. Altice has taken on too much debt, too fast. Look at the signs. Altice uses 10 year bonds at low interest. So they only pay interest. Once the time is up they need flexibility to sell off to pay debt. Their focus is making massive money, reduce the need for paying high salaries, benefits, etc. ..

So many people are cord cutting. Numerous websites highlight ways to cut cable TV, and keep Internet only. Networks are demanding more money for cable providers to carry. Cable industry is changing. With FTTH, techs become, " on-demand technicians", contractors.

Altice is losing the battle at SFR/Numerical.

https://stopthecap.com/2017/01/24/altices-cost-cutting-truth-2-5-million-customers-fled-hills/

https://www.google.com/amp/seekingalpha.com/amp/article/3994146-altices-business-model-will-implode-sooner-later?

Previous optimum owners tried to focus on customer service. That's how you value paying higher price. These new guys don't care about customers. Bad morale from employees will not promote good service. Keep employees happy and they become ambassadors, advocates, for the company.

If all of the Techs including Construction, OSP, don't sign with ATS. It makes it very difficult for ATS to form. And it makes it harder to scale back techs. You can do FTTH as you are.

They can't make it seem like massive layoffs. Sadly, it will only buy you some time. Some more time is all you need to plan better for a change of circumstances.

Plan now. Pay down debt, don't be like Altice and take on more debt you can't handle. ATS is a global model to standardize cuts, in order to keep option to scale back the work force.

Altice can be a great force in the US cable industry. Their investment needs to be in balancing and offering customers what they truly want, pick what they want, reliable, fast Internet, and the greatest customer service the planet has ever seen. The latter means they have to retain current employees. Have employees feel needed.

But again, that is just a dream. Greed clouds reasonable judgment. The same greed that Altice has, is the same as a busted gambler. They scavenge everything they have, for one last hand. Pa*ck Dhi is obsessed with fiber. He is obsessed with property and high life. His minions are of the same mindset. If they don't change the business model, they will fail. That means danger for current employees. Plan.

Don't sign on to ATS. It can be done without ATS. Put them in an awkward position. Union may do that. But I'm not sure it will be enough. It's too little, too late. Should have done it, 2 years ago.

Comment! It's anonymous!

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Next wave of voluntary (yeah right) separation packages of salaried employees. Exit date Feb 17 they had no choice. You don't want to know what's behind door number two. I can't blame them, but after doing so many years of service that's your farewell for pushing company agenda I hope it was worth it conscious wise. And they are hiring contractors as we speak check zip recruiters

http://www.fiercecable.com/special-report/altice-coo-new-tech-spin-off-to-focus-network-design-engineering-and-construction

Altice also said the program is voluntary, although it’s hard to know what career options a tech might have if their entire department switches over and they don’t.

Bronx lease up as well for sales.. anyone heard anything??

Read do your research, they are coming for our salaries, they want maximum profit whether it's dropping channels or dropping techs mgmt, sales customer reps, vendors etc. Also leases are up or going to be up in Bridgeport ct and Stamford ct are they consolidating or closing shops any info?

By going to ATS your benefits will be cut, that is fact. However, you get to keep your job at same pay without any raises, if you choose that option.

Once ATS is done, they said as a tech you would be marketable. Yes, you would have participated in a fiber build in some way. But what good will your skills be worth if no other company plans on FTTH? Hmm. . .

Fiber is the future. But it's costly.

The funny thing is, gigabit speeds are coming. Bringing fiber deeper, rather than to the home makes more sense. Other cable companies have already announced their plans, DOCSIS 3.1. More affordable using an HFC network. Arris has a new modem coming to support this.

http://www.arris.com/solutions/docsis-3.1-and-ccap/

http://www.arris.com/globalassets/resources/infographics/hybrid-pon-architecture_new-choice-for-ftth-transformation_12916.jpg

http://www.cablefax.com/cablefax_viewpoint/docsis-3-1-vs-ftth

This is anther good read:

http://www.fibre-systems.com/feature/five-common-ftth-myths-debunked

Was put out in 2013. The signs were there. Wake up folks. Your industry is changing. Stay where you are and at the same time, try to look for another job, perhaps a career change. Go with ATS, lose benefits, keep pay, keep work during construction phase and initial roll out, and still look for another job or plan to stay as contractor. 3 years at best. Hope to be retained as a small remnant needed to operate.

The cable industry is being shaken. Cable companies are looking to buy wireless.

https://www.google.com/amp/www.digitaltrends.com/business/verizon-interested-comcast-charter/amp/?

Cable TV is dying. Internet is all that matters.

https://www.google.com/amp/arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/08/every-major-cable-tv-company-lost-subscribers-last-quarter/%3Famp%3D1?

Fiber is gonna happen. But, after fiber build is complete, good bye cable techs. You can learn, but another fact, Altice will no longer need so many techs. Competition for a job will be fierce, due to limited amounts of positions. That's "IF" they get enough money from IPO move.

It's tough because we battle a fragile economy as well. Someone said on another post as well, save, pay down debt, be ready for searching job market. We have to accept this fate. This company will only need 30-40% of techs moving past 2018.

Go to a cable company that will keep their HFC network to deploy Docsis 3.1. Your skills will be useful there: Comcast, Spectrum, TW. But either way expect a pay cut.

My biggest concern is that if no depots vote the union in, we will all lose out. Will ATS provide salaries, or will we pad by the job? Don't forget, when they say we will be doing fiber,that means we won't be doing anything until the plant is rebuilt. Will we get paid while this is happening? I don't see them paying people to sit around waiting for a rebuild, just to run a drop and inline. Times have changed.

I am not taking either side here. Please consider the fact that every contracting company has employees that may be competing for a job with ATS for possible reasons like continuing to take care of their families, continue to live near where they work ect... please don't assume that lack of interest by technicians that currently work for the company will prevent the company from moving forward with its plans. Like it or not offering the existing front line employees a position with ATS may be the only thing that might be considered the decent thing to do that you may get from Altice. As has been pointed out numerous times on this site Altice is running the company like a business. It is a business and they need to make a profit. In the end each of you must decide what is best for you and what you are and are not willing to risk. God bless and best wishes for all of you

The funny thing is its not that hard to get the information about altice and how they do buisness they just choose not to to.they choose to be ignorant. All this is public record ..

True post.. Exactly if only these idiots get there head out of there a--.

Thread regarding Altice USA (Cablevision) layoffs

Don't join ATS. Dont do it!!

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