SBC to cut more than 10,000 jobs in AT&T deal

[Robert Oak]

SBC Communications Inc. on Tuesday said it expects to cut around 10,200 jobs as a result of its $16 billion acquisition of AT&T Corp.

http://www.reuters.com/financeNewsArticle.jhtml?type=bondsNews&storyID=7502223

[musette_sf]

1. SBC: Well known

for years as the cheapest (in terms of infrastructure investment), least advanced Baby Bell. Has long resisted upgrading infrastructure - why should they when almost everything still runs on 80-year-old POTP?

SBC: crappiest DSL service.

SBC: Makes up sh!t on trouble calls to call an issue "resolved" so their service metrics look good. Example: I made repeated calls with various DSL and land line problems - called back to follow up on a ticket that had been marked as "Resolved - Customer took modem off of PC tower". I have almost 20 years of desktop support experience and would never even think of such an idea.

SBC: The sooner we can get their crap name off of the ball park, the better.

[Gman]

10. I know first hand of how SBC does these things

Everything you say is true. In fact, SBC will even route repair and other calls, during times of heavy call loads, to centers that have nothing to do with the original call but are experiencing light call loads to take these calls out of the service measurement queue. The center the call was referred to will explain that there is a heavy call volume and offer to take a call back number or tell the customer to call back later. That way, the clock doesn't start running on 1) call answering time and 2) clearing the trouble, installing the service. It happens all the time but appears especially prevalent in the SW Bell territory.

[conflictgirl]

16. My husband works for SBC.

I know from numerous stories from him that everything you say here is true. We had SBC DSL service for a while and it was terrible - we got rid of it and got cable internet instead.

Did you know that SBC has a greater GNP than countries like Hungary and the United Arab Emirates? But to hear them tell it (especially what they tell to their employees), they're barely surviving. :nopity:

[mhr]

2. My Neighbor Says The Pink Slips Are Flowing In Dallas

As A result of the Cingular, AT&T Wireless merger from last year.

This just adds insult to injury.

As a refugee from Telecom, I can say that there are no significant jobs to be had.

Unemployed 57 months here.

[Krupskaya]

3. Ten. Thousand. Jobs.

TEN THOUSAND JOBS.

[cthrumatrix]

4. exactly...who is hiring 10,000 (good salary jobs)..?????????????????

[TahitiNut]

5. Let's take note that this is in the SERVICE sector.

SBC is an abomination of a company. Horrendous "customer service" and terrible employment practices.

[scarletlib]

11. it is a hellish place to work

my sister started with them in 1977. at that time it was a good place to have a career. however, the last 10+ years have been pure hell for her. to say they treat their staff like shit is an understatement. at this point she is trying to tough out the last few years. she is so sick and worn out thought that if she can get cut she will take it now. she will still get a good layoff package at this point.

[Tempest]

6. Proctor & Gamble merger with Gillette resulting in 6,000 job cuts

They're closing 10 U.S. plants so a majority of the jobs will be in manufacturing.

[TexasLawyer]

7. Consolidation of US employees?

or great cover for further outsourcing of employees?

http://www.ariannaonline.com/outsourcing/index.php

DAVID "SHOWING THEM THE DOOR" DORMAN

Name: David Dorman
Company: A T & T
Title: Chairman and CEO
Crime Against America: The Communication Workers of America has reported that AT&T outsourced nearly 500 customer service jobs to India in 2003.
Partner in Crime: Dorman has contributed $2,000 to the Bush campaign and $15,000 to the Republican National Committee. A T & T Wireless Services Chairman, President and CEO is not only a Bush contributor -- he's contributed to the lost of nearly 3,000 to India.

********************************

http://www.ciol.com/content/news/2003/103111907.asp

AT&T Wireless to outsource 3000 jobs
The company is cited to be in the process of discussing outsourcing arrangements with companies, that employ people in India and elsewhere overseas.

Reuters
Wednesday, November 19, 2003


NEW YORK: AT&T Wireless plans to lay off more than 10 percent of its 30,000 workers over the next year and outsource the functions, The Wall Street Journal said on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the situation.

The moves by the wireless telephone company, would come on top of a recent announcement increasing the number of people it could lay off because of a consolidation of facilities, the paper reported.

AT&T Wireless is discussing outsourcing arrangements with companies that employ people in India and elsewhere overseas, the paper said.
Officials with AT&T Wireless were not immediately available for comment on Wednesday.

The report said major outsourcing deals have not been finalized and that they could fall through, but added the company is negotiating with several possible partners. The jobs targeted would largely be in customer service and information technology, the report said, citing a person familiar with the discussions.

**********************

http://www.americanfreepress.net/html/u_s__workers_outraged.html

U.S. Workers Outraged Over Outsourcing

Media Misses The Message; Unions Strike Over Job Loss

By Mark Anderson

<snip>

SECOND LARGEST TELECOM

SBC owns the lines used by Sprint, MCI and many other phone-service providers. As the second-largest telecom company in the United States, it earned $8.5 billion in profits last year. Its board of directors was reportedly so pleased that top executives such as CEO Ed Whitacre were given huge pay increases. His salary increased by 93 percent and his 2003 compensation was a tidy $19.3 million.

Union employees at SBC say they want guarantees of upward mobility. A May 19 CWA news release noted that CWA members were seeking access to new-growth jobs in Internet data services and installation of wi-fi (wireless Internet) hot spots, voice over the Internet, DSL broadband and other areas.

“Virtually all of this SBC work, amounting to thousands of jobs, is being outsourced, including going offshore to countries such as India and the Philippines,” warned the news release.

“What does leadership mean for one of America’s largest companies?” the union asked during the strike. “Does it mean working to keep American jobs or contracting customer service out to India? Does it mean working with us to resolve the national health care crisis or cutting health care for employees and retirees? Isn’t it time someone in corporate America stood by their workers?”

Writer Tom Piatak believes the idea of corporate America standing by its workers is in short supply.

<snip>


************************************

Contributions to the Chimp's inauguration ceremony

AT&T Washington, DC $250,000
SBC, $100,000

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=106&topic_id=14214

[twaddler01]

9. So the truth comes out...

I bet they are just outsourcing. No since in hiring U.S. workers that want more pay. Just find countries where we can pay em $1/hour...

[napi21]

13. I contacted AT&T last night, and I know I was speaking to offshore!

It was a call that was a bit insignificant as it wasn't about a problem or service. I wanted to set my account up on my Billpay account at my bank...NOT THROUGH THEIR WEB SITE! The oriental person I spoke to had no idea what Billpay was, and I asked her where she was? She didn't answer, and kept talking about something else, and I asked AGAIN...WHERE ARE YOU? She said she isn't permited to tell me!!!! I finally did find out what I was looking for, and I sent an aggrivated note to AT&T, asking that they remember what the name means! American Telephone & Telegraph!!! The accent being on American! Well, I got a response this morning, and they said the majority of their employees are in the US, and they only use outsourcing to cover hogh volume calling times. I say this is BS! I don't believe it at all!!!

I'm certainly not a very values customer of AT&T. I only have them as a fallback if someone in my house dials a long distance number. I have another service where I pay 2.5 cents a minute anywhere in the US, and 3.9 cants/mon to my son in Italy. The bill I had to pay with my Billpay was a whopping $1.56. I don't care, I had to let them know I don't like this outsourcing stuff!!!

[captainslack]

8. Bad timing!

Co-worker and good friend of mine just turned in his two weeks notice here (IBM) to take a job at an AT&T network ops center. This was a job he'd been trying to get for a almost a year now. This merger couldn't have come at a worse time for him.:(

[sportndandy]

12. Sorry to be harsh but

Whoever voted for Bush deserves it. In fact, whenever anyone tells me they just lost their job I ask who they voted for. If they say Kerry I express sympathy, if they say Bush I laugh at them and tell them they deserve it. Then I suggest they enlist. I hear the armed forces need help.

God but I can be such an asshole!

[llmart]

15. You're not an asshole.....

'cause I feel the same way. If I know them to be a Bush supporter, I just say to them, "quit your whining and buck up." But now I can add your snappy comeback too:)

[Nightwing]

14. Time for a national workers union!

So we can shut this nation down!! Then and only then will we finally get these bastards attention! It should have been done when Reagan fired the air traffic controllers for going on strike, but I'll settle for better late rather than never at all.

[VegasWolf]

17. India just picked up thousands of outsourced telecommunications

jobs.