Thread regarding Windstream Corp. layoffs

I left 2 weeks ago and didn't get any damn package. And lost 70 hours of PTO pay. The hell?

The voluntary separation packages I know of were NOT union positions- that’s not to say there are other packages I am not aware of.

Are these union positions or no?

Only BB and OSP under BW under JS, but not all under BW. #donedeal out of here.

Any word on how many voluntary separation packages were offered? Was it just for OSP/BB group or have others gotten packages?

Gonna let you in on a secret. If you invested in CLEC you are the fool. Our fool just keep buying.

We won’t be offering a voluntary separation package. We will be terminating position and increasing my pay.

TT

Anyone who says or thinks they are safe or believes anyone who says that is delusional.

"Oh please please please offer a buyout package to IT! Please!!!"

No worries, My IT director out of Twinsburg told us we are safe.

Oh please please please offer a buyout package to IT! Please!!!

If that cable is all-dielectric self-supporting, that’s a product deployed mostly by electric utilities since they can safely put it in the “supply region” of poles close to conductors. Electric utilities have deployed 100s of 1000s of miles of this stuff manufactured by AFL, OFS, Prysmian and, to a lesser extent, Corning.

There are all sorts of special hardware, specialized standards and special installation procedures for this. It’s its own little world.

Note that CommScope is not on that list. At all.

This is bad.

You all can thank TG in Kentucky and MS in architecture for this masterful design. The engineering group has been forced to deploy this as "Windstream Standard". Engineering can't even review what is being turned in by the contractors as we are being pushed to approve with the known mistakes.

“That is really lame. Is this supposed to be self-supporting cable? Or figure 8? Or just plain old duct cable?”

Self-supporting.. it is the stuff commscope is pushing. ‘Fiber indexing’, basically daisy chaining everything. But the cable isn’t meant to pclamped, so we are losing light at every pole pretty much.

“There are some other areas near Concord that they are using clamps to hang the fiber from pole to pole.“

That is really lame. Is this supposed to be self-supporting cable? Or figure 8? Or just plain old duct cable?

With regular all dielectric self supporting cable, power companies like Duke use stuff that spreads the load at the pole. Also, it doesn’t grip it really hard at one small spot.

They’re lucky they’re not actually breaking fibers.

“For aerial drops, are they doing that with the ftth system Concord Telephone put in prior to Windstream’s purchase?”

No, all of that CTC put up years ago is lashed & hung correctly. There are some other areas near Concord that they are using clamps to hang the fiber from pole to pole. Yes, the actual drop is made for pclamps, but the fiber going from pole to pole, or terminal should not be held up with pclamps.

“Same thing with the fttp in NC.. hanging it with pclamps & it’s meant to be lashed, but contractors are lazy.”

For aerial drops, are they doing that with the ftth system Concord Telephone put in prior to Windstream’s purchase?

Fortunately my fiber service is underground and works great.

Is there much of a PC lamp problem for drops to the home or is it mostly between poles?

Pclamps sound like a good way to screw up fiber.

We're directed to make them put it up like that. Probably saves like 12cents a foot this way. It's not any of our choice to build this turd.

Same thing with the fttp in NC.. hanging it with pclamps & it’s meant to be lashed, but contractors are lazy.. Losing light after every pclamp. Not to mention they can’t get dial tone to work correctly. Either no dial tone or 1-way audio.

Nope. Put it up with pclamps. Looks like hell. From inception to execution it's garbage.

"Indexing fiber has no splices it is all plug and play and very flexible. Long spans the cable bends creating micro bends."

Don't they lash this stuff?

Indexing fiber has no splices it is all plug and play and very flexible. Long spans the cable bends creating micro bends. Concept is okay if you like the appearance of those pictures you see from India with wires going everywhere. Actually it is an absurd design that nobody but this fantastic company uses.

“The only turd engineering continues to turn out is that indexing junk that we continue to have issues with here in Nebraska. ”

I’m curious:

Is that the concept CommScope is pushing? How’s it causing problems?

All the microbends you mentioned - poor splicing work? Poor cable installation? Or poor products to start with?

The only turd engineering continues to turn out is that indexing junk that we continue to have issues with here in Nebraska. Thanks JS for pushing this garbage. Nothing like FttP that we can't keep up because of all the micro bends. So I hope all the engineers and directors, VP's that sold us this bill of goods takes the buyout so we can move forward with something that works. Just my 2 cents from a tech that has to deal with this junk.

Finally- a post with the information people are looking for on this site. Hope the voluntary separation works out for anyone looking to get out. Not a great package but may be enough incentive for some.

Well I guess we are delusional since the separation package was offered yesterday. 20K plus all unused vacation plus up to 12 weeks severance based on years of service. Interested employees have to turn paper work in by 5/24 decision will be made by 5/31 and last day of work will be 6/14.

Buyout - are you serious? We are WELL BEYOND the buyout phase. Why spend $ they don't have to buy you out to leave - when they can just get you on a conf call and tell you that you have an hour to clean out your desk? Apparently you are delusional.....unless you are union, they probably have different rules. But non-union, forget it - and get your box ready.

I just want to leave this miserable place.

Not a bad thing either. You couldn't pass a turd through the OSP engineering groups right now anyways...

Dear heavenly father please let my department be one of the ones that gets a buyout this time so I can leave hell and get thee behind me satan. In Jesus' name, Amen 🙏🙏🙏🙏🤞🤞🤞🤞

Steve Miller said take the money and run.

Poof

???

OSP/BB engineers have received noticed today of the package. Employees are under BW's umbrella, folks get prepared as to what is next. What if they dont get the numbers they are hoping for? I think we all know the answer.

If you're smart, you'll take it

Maybe you could elaborate???

What a helpful and insightful post.