Layoffs, anxiety at AT&T Wireless

[UpInArms]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/eastsidenews/2001855189_aweemployees11.html

excerpt:

Several workers who asked not to be identified say they were told pink slips would go out as early as this week and could affect up to a third of the 3,000 IT workers.

<snip>
More layoffs, including in the IT department, could happen by year's end. The company has said it plans to cut at least 1,900 jobs, including those about to be trimmed.

<snip>

Some employees caught a glimpse of plans recently when they saw notes left behind on a conference room's whiteboard. One of them used a cellphone camera to take a picture of the whiteboard and pass it on to colleagues via e-mail.

In scrawled handwriting, the notes read: "What opportunity do we have to offshore/outsource? What percent, or how many headcount, would support project work? What functions don't we have covered?"

Some employees said a group of workers from India arrived at the Seattle- area offices a couple of weeks ago to learn employees' jobs. The Indian workers sit in cubicles next to AT&T Wireless employees and attend meetings with them.

...more...

Well, golly gee whiz, Sgt. Carter! I guess *Co will need to make that number 3.8 million plus a whole lot more!

Isn't this wonderful job boom just great for Bangladore?

[pinniped]

1. So when does pres. POS' 3.8 million job counter start?

Does anyone know?

I also hear AT&T Wireless is for sale.

[BiggJawn]

3. As soon as they can break ground for those 100,000 new Hardee's...

Don't worry, you former IT geeks who voted for the guy you thought was gonna make you rich with tax cuts, you'll still be involved with high-tech stuff...

Like fry timers and burger-flip timers and wireless drive-through intercoms...

[NJCher]

2. * keeps a promise

He told India he would keep those jobs coming.


Cher

[cosmicdot]

4. so many American workers have lived through similar situations

from about 1990-1994, we went day to day not knowing if, when we
showed up, we would be greeted with a pink-slip ... that'll wear and tear at the spirit ... morale was so low, it couldn't
even be scraped off the floor ... a merger; a buyout; 5
layoffs ... the daily rumor mill could cause anxiety attacks (and, did) ... competing 'corporate cultures' clashed for power and influence

... the final configuration, a massively down-sized unit, separated from its main money-maker (that's what the buyout was really over ... that business was transferred out) ... was eventually sold to its major 'supplier' about 4 years after that

... from end-to-end, there were, at least, 5 corporate cultures competing against each other for power under a common roof ...

people with long-tenure were sent out to pasture

couple that with corporate control over medical care ... it's an angst out there for a political party to tap into ... people have had it with corporate abuse

[raifield]

5. ARGH!

"I have been through one already. I originally started with McCaw. What I've learned is what's best is what's right for business and what's right for shareholders."

Apparently, what's right for the employees is roughly equal to that of shit.

But as long as shareholder value is up, the company is doing good and the economy is recovering! :mad: