It is painful to observe the decline of customer service. The outsourcing to people who have 'no skin in the game' and no critical thought process is now the norm. It is sickening. To all.. and I mean all those who come from the decades with the Regional Bell Operating Companies [those some call dinosaurs, old farts] I know though not perfect the majority had a vested interest in the company's well-being. Speaking for my original assigned area SWBT/SBC SW; MOKAT, the company wanted the inside personnel and the outside personnel to know the faces of the personnel with whom they would be speaking; we gathered periodically promoted by the company. I was trained very well coming in barely 20 years old and now approaching 64. Please, let us not allow the 'AT&T venom' poison us as we communicate for some possibly the last time; share all the leads and information you may have without attacking each other, agree or disagree. Integrity still matters. I am sure I will not likely make it through 2020 and will likely not do Telecom again in any form. But I am keeping up with my brothers and sisters as much as will be allowed. Wireline, TDM, Telco brought us to the dance. It is still good and can be better with upkeep and timely, well-handled tech advancements. Still very capable retired or not. May you all find solid ground on which to stand.
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You know when this is over, they need to drop Att, along with any other names or brands that are tied to the Bell System. They have destroyed it; so, since it was so bad you had to k–l it, quit using it for branding purposes. Let the employees and Lines of Business that made it great for over the last century die in piece.
Now , you cats go out and make your own greatness and quit trying to live off our accomplishments which weren't worth saving per your conclusions.
You media fu@ks need to leave the remaining Bell Heads who still work at this company alone.
Go find and make your own fortune. You've got it all figured out, right?
Please smartchat to agent for assistance, no one is is available to take your call.
Randy and the Johns ruin everything they touch.
That was beautifully written. We can’t control what this company does, but we can control our reactions to it. Keep your head high and do your job with pride. We’ll land on our feet just fine after the company is thru with us. The good ones always do.
You can glorify it's past, you can lament it's passing, welcome to global corporate business. Didn't need a crystal ball to see this coming, warts and all.
It is sickening that this great company built by great men and women for more than century is being destroyed before our eyes by a handful of incompetent, greedy, clueless management people. Such a shame that I will not be able to look at AT&T (PacBell/SWBT/SBC) again and be able to proudly recall what I have built there, working with hardworking, dedicated, honest people for over 23 years. I have left this company this year and found another employer who values and respects its employees, knowing that good people are the best assets any company can have. Shame on you Randall, the Johns and the AT&T Board of Directors, may the collapse of this company give you eternal infamy, you are all disgusting..
I miss Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. Felt like we worked for a small business with pride in your work. Golden boy Randy really F’d things up
Good post....similar here...1977 Pacific Telephone 3 weeks out of high school climbing slick sticks hanging cans....Then Pacific Telesis, Pacific Bell, SBC, ATT.....Took a buyout 2018 with 41 years at 59. Rode the lightening had a great job with great people....but very happy to be out.
I started right out of college with SW Bell Wireless. My coworker and I sent out nearly all the equipment for the cell towers in a southern state, when we were looking to build out the wireless network as quickly as possible. It was stressful and crazy, but a lot of fun at the same time. Many of the relationships I created back then I still have today. We were like a work family. Those were my fondest memories with the company, and I couldn't be prouder of the network we built. It's still in use today 15-20 years later.
What a shame that the company has devolved into a "media" company mess, and they're doing everything they can to run the loyal employees off. It makes me sad.