Thread regarding CenturyLink layoffs

Found this over at AT&T section sounds like it could apply to us in the near future

This is coming from extremely top level sources. I have very little detail right now beyond what's here, but I will try to get answers to questions.

Midwest and Legacy have a handshake understanding for their represented employees. The other regions are said to follow in the next two years.

Field employees like prem techs will no longer be represented by the CWA. This will extend to others such as service reps and "transactional" (their words) positions as well. So not 100% but close to 75-80% of represented members will be affected.

Those employees will then be allowed to nominate for contract positions before being removed as W-2 employees. Those who accept will be the first to be onboarded as 1099-based workers.

There is a new app tentatively called T-Dispatch which is similar to the Uber model. Jobs will show up in the app and anyone within range can "bid" on them. For phone reps, these "jobs" will be in the form of hour-long blocks of time.

Upon completion of each job/block, credit will be applied to the account of the tech/rep which can then be redeemed for cash which is then direct deposited and 1099'd.

Extremely busy times (natural disasters, etc) can trigger surge pricing for certain jobs. Conversely, if multiple techs/reps bid on jobs/blocks that have multiple "takers," the app will trigger a "Dutch auction" type scenario that lowers the pay until only one person (the lowest bidder) gets the job.

Metrics will be gathered by customers much like star ratings for Uber drivers. This will effect future pay if the star ratings are too low on average. Maintaining a five star rating could lead to premiums for certain jobs (this is not certain yet).

An additional bonus is that instead of cash, a tech/rep can redeem their points for gift cards at a premium (for example, $100 in points could get $103 in Walmart gift cards or up to $120 in Omaha Steaks or Bed Bath and Beyond gift cards. These are obviously just examples). So, there is a way to supplement your pay if you are going to go shopping at e.g. Walmart anyway.

Overall, this is expected to reduce labor costs by 65%-75%.

T-Dispatch will also have in-app training so that new workers from the general public can be trained quickly and become part of the labor pool for each job. This should drive down costs even more due to the Dutch auction style model of assigning jobs.

It is believed that most workers will choose to drive for ride-sharing and/or delivery companies between jobs, since they will be out anyway.

Techs will use their own vehicles most of the time (as independent contractors, they can't be given company vehicles). They will also be offered the opportunity to buy their safety, diagnostic, and repair equipment at a pretty nice discount. Those with jobs that require larger trucks and equipment can lease then from the company at a decent rate. But remember, these jobs will pay more in the app. So it's expected to be a wash cost wise.

Hope that helps.

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| 1542 views | | 2 replies (last April 3, 2019) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+YmgE7zP

2 replies (most recent on top)

Walmart prices Walmart quality, we can hire the greeters at the doors and never have to walk in.

This is once again propaganda, companies wanting Gold Plated service but not wanting to pay for the help, sounds like what Trump did when he built Trump Tower actually, renege on payment and dismiss them and hire new at the end of the contract to do final touches and then complain about quality and not pay for breach of contract.

80 percent savings on labor by the time they can done working the numbers they will have the bidders paying them to work and make a profit on labor.

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Post ID: @2evp+YmgE7zP

happened in the past can happen in the future

AT&T just received early separation offers sounds just like Centurylink ….This is right up the new CEO's Alley...make NO MISTAKES they are GOING to BREAK the Union

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Post ID: @1oqq+YmgE7zP

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