Oh wait what?
For a moment there I forgot I was an AT&T Premises Technician Slave. I work in a mismanaged sweatshop environment 10 - 12 hours a day 6 days a week. I don't even remember what a weekend is any more.
Thanks CWA. Thanks for doing absolutely nothing and allowing work conditions to go BACKWARDS that is.
“The company gives ST and FT work to Prem/Wire techs”.
I get that with the ST title, but what Prem/Wire tech work is being “given” to TFS FT’s in the Southeast?? Other than bonded pair U-Verse installs/troubles, what work normally performed by Prem/wire techs has been shifted to TFS??
All copper installs including single pair that don’t have uverse tv or dtv on the order. All copper repairs on uverse in my area as well
“The company gives ST and FT work to Prem/Wire techs”.
I get that with the ST title, but what Prem/Wire tech work is being “given” to TFS FT’s in the Southeast?? Other than bonded pair U-Verse installs/troubles, what work normally performed by Prem/wire techs has been shifted to TFS??
@11368LwO-1tmn - it’s 3 Dot writing... ... not making a point ... ... just writing like I talk... ... it’s in honor of Herb Caen... Columnist for the San Francisco Examiner Newspaper back in the day... look him up ... https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theatlantic.com/amp/article/252489/
Part of the b–ching is the company takes the work ST and FT’s do and give it to the Wire Techs. But wire techs get paid less and have metrics to get the job done faster in a shorter period of time. And when on loan to other areas there is no pay premium, FS and ST get premium pay for loan outs. How would you feel if you got paid a $1 to do,the work that someone usually gets $2 for. Yes, FT and ST make twice as much as Prem Wire Techs. There more as well. BS.
Jesus old-timer do you have to use “...” after every stupid point your trying to make.
Once a wire tech , you’re a wire tech for life and that’s if you’re lucky.
That’s funny. I guess the 3 guys who transferred into my group from prem tech positions are a figment of everyone’s imagination.
Maybe you should get your skill codes up to date and bid on any openings in core.
Quit lying, you know you don't work 8 hours a day. They also didn't get rid of any sweatshop jobs, the jobs just got moved overseas. I notice you didn't pack up and go overseas to fight for unions there. You just take in the pay the company provides for you, and sit on your buttocks.
Yep, there are no stepping stones in craft anymore. Once a wire tech , you’re a wire tech for life and that’s if you’re lucky. More likely you’ll be out of a job sooner than later.
Funny when everyone says career stepping stone. We cant move anywhere but out of the company because of the BS seniority rules that the union has. Bid on a job(really no jobs to bid on anymore) and don’t have enough seniority to get the job but probably a better fit
Wire Tech in the Southeast currently tops out at $25.00/hr with a contractual OT cap of 14 hrs/week. If this TA is ratified, that top pay will be $29.00/hr by 8/2023. Not exactly “sweat shop” if you ask me. Please don’t forget that WT is an ENTRY level job and should only be considered a career stepping stone with the company. You might want to check and compare this wage with AT&T competitors (including MSO’s - TWC, Charter, Comcast, etc.) for the same work activities. I think you’ll find that $25-$29/hr for an entry level job at any competitor is hard to come by. If you still don’t think you are being treated fairly, then by all means, bulk your skill set up, pass the TKTll exam and apply for every group 1 / WS32 job that comes along.
“” Unions are communist or organized crime organizations.“”
Yep , keep getting all your news from Fox News, mo–n.
OP, I call BS, Ford started the 8 hour workday and benefits BEFORE it was unionized. It was smart BUSINESS. Unions are communist or organized crime organizations.
@11368LwO-1hqy
Quit and find a job close to home.
Wake up at 630 and check WFE - great - got 7 jobs that add up to 11 hours if all goes well. Of course, during the day you can expect at least 1 or 2 Same-Day drop-ins that can easily run you upwards of 13 or 14 hours by the time you are done.
How can I forget that all of these jobs are over 90 miles away from where I live, so there is the 3 hours of unpaid commute time to factor into my day.
So I leave at 700 am and get home at 10 or 11 or 12.
Wife and kids have been fed and in bed for hours. Not even the dog wakes up for me anymore. I slam a few beers and b-ng hits and go to sleep on the couch.
Well I started this job as a non union job. I got forced into the union. Yes it was like the Wild West with the managers but the whining and crying of the techs wasn’t there and this entitlement that the union brings. I shouldn’t have to conform to union rules and all this other BS when this job wasn’t union to begin with because they never wanted us and than when they need us we are an Addendum 8 pages in Italics towards the back of the book. Just like they treat us.
Wake up and smell the coffee Wires and Prems. We are nothing but disposable sweatshop labor to this company. We are here to be worked to death until we are no longer needed and then we will be dumped.
Remember that the next time your manager expects you to go that extra mile for your customer and finish your bonded pair hsia, six box install needing a new aerial drop and it's late and past your 54 hour mark.
@11368LwO-1hjj - you’re here to get paid.... nothing more nothing less... ....you were hired as a permanent worker in a work title that was created to get past a work bubble.... ... you get upset because you got one persons opinion... a truthful reply... ... you’re upset because in your opinion the Union isn’t doing enough in your opinion to make you permanent.... be mad... be angry... don’t blame others for your problems.... ... you put in the application because you needed a better paying job or just needed a job... ... reality hurts... maybe getting a degree and getting that education earlier in life would have been a better decision... or if you did those things you should have chosen a better field.... either it’s over saturated or... maybe it’s you.... YOU are in a Joe job... so am I... ... in case you don’t know what a Joe job is ... ANY JOE CAN DO IT.... ... I know I’m a short timer... I know my number will be called and I’ll leave the company.... I’m ready to go... but unlike you I’m not crying about it... I’m not trying to build a bunch of me too’s to cry in unison rather cry a solo.... I don’t have a Union to fight for me... I stand on my own merits.... I’ve gotten past many workforce downsizing... both as a Tech and as a 1st Level.... ... I understand this business and the Company intentions.... they’ve wanted to go Contract since 1984.... ... I went out on strike for 3 weeks... ... the Company wanted to Contract Splicing and Line... we held for 3 weeks and the Union sold the field Techs out.... when we asked why to the Local Union President.... she said it only effects a small group of people... she said the Union had to look out for the Majority not the Minority... that was the start ... in my opinion of the downfall of the Field Techs.... Be mad... be angry... blame everyone... ... then when you look in the mirror... nobody to blame but you... ... sit on the jobs... do less... make your fellow prem techs pick up the slack you create... blame everyone but remember you will be directly responsible for someone having to work harder.... the Original person asking why the divide got an honest answer from me.... you have a problem with it.... fook off ... who cares what you think.... have a nice day slacking tomorrow fookhead....
If that’s the case what’s the point?
If we are all a group of temp workers why should I go out and be all in everyday?
Way to go first level! At least we know what we actually are to this company now and that is disposable, usable, cheaper labor. Right out the mouth of management.
You heard it people it’s a free for all now. All that b—s— the union fed you about well we bargained to make you permanent. My a–hole! They won’t get any more outta me and I’m milking the clock everyday until that temporary workgroup axe falls on my c—.
Dump them both! I was a prem tech for 4 years and it definitely went backwards.
The company and the union are both dogshit. Leaving was the best decision I have made.
And don’t listen to these union j–koffs who tell you it’s your union change it or the only alternative out there is another cable company for 1/3 the pay. That’s all bull sh–.
There are good jobs out there that don’t treat you like trash with good pay and bennies and that don’t have a giant leach like cwa attaches to your ball sack.
Again, dump them both. The company would do it to you in a heart beat if it means saving a penny and the union doesn’t really give a c-ap about you or your family either. Either one will sacrifice you at the drop of a dime. Especially at the benefit of your core counterparts.
@11368LwO-1rjc - Legit question... here’s an answer from a 40yr Employee.... 18yrs Tech ... 22yrs 1st Level for same job title Core... when UVERSE Project was coming on line there came a need for a new workgroup to do installs.... the Company hired new Managers and Techs to do the work.... the Company also seen this as a temporary situation because they foreseen the work to roll right back to the Core Department that did the work on the copper side of the house... the Company created a separate wage scale for these employees with the full intention that they would be eliminated after a period of time.... we are near that time... The Union accepted the conditions to grow the workforce... agreeing in essence that they would be eliminated or roll into Core.... Core Techs felt they were taking work away from them... ... work already defined in their work description... ...taking potential OT opportunities.... thus the Core vs Prem Tech divide... Prem Techs originally were inside the DMark/inside the house... .... they work hard... they worked until the install came on line which could take hours in the beginning.... when Contracts came up... as much as the Union tried to get them more money the Company held fast on the notion they were temporary... the Prem Techs have been the tip of the spear regarding Union vs Management friction... they were the first to call for a walk out for unfair work conditions... they were forced when the days work was not completed... they have held the short dirty end of the stick... but most Core Techs won’t recognize them due to how they were brought aboard... hence the divide... ... the Union tries to get better agreed Contract agreements for them but the Company will not agree to anything and will walk away from the table if need be
@rjc, the union leadership is made up of core old timers. They see prem/wire techs as short time, temp workers even though their title has been here for over a decade now.
The union's knee jerk response is always 'if you don't like it come to the meetings'. Which is hard to do when you're working all the time.
At the rate prems and wiretechs are leaving for better jobs, the union won't need to worry about them much longer. Not that it ever did.
The union is useless and irrelevant. The only reason the wire techs are in the union is to keep the union around. The so called strike was to try to United everyone and show the power of the union. They call the strike the day after everyone gets paid and than come back to work right before the end of the month(healthcare) and the holiday so they get their holiday pay. Like no one saw that coming. And than the ta comes out and the so called bother hood is internally fighting and pointing fingers. And now the techs find out because they striked they don’t get retro pay. Something the union didn’t tell them til after they came back to work.
I’m not a prem/wire tech. Can someone reasonably explain to me why the union doesn’t want to fight for them ? Why the hatred and animosity towards wire techs from core? I’ve heard that wire techs far outnumber core. Don’t know if this is true , but if it is, you’d think the union would want to keep them in the fold and happy. What am I missing ?
The alternative is go work for a cable company non-union for a 1/3 of the pay!
I’m a prem/ wire tech. I can’t stand the complaining. Y’all b–ch when you don’t get enough OT and than you b–ch when you get as much OT as possible. Be grateful you still have a job. Like the other posters have said you signed up and knew what was expected of you. And Yes I have a family but that’s life and the JOB I signed up for.
QUIT..... job is so bad... pay is so low.... work conditions are horrible.... QUIT.... ...go find a better paying job with better work conditions.... get your weekends back.... QUIT..!!!!!!
8 hrs ............ lol, We are union and I have yet to see an 8 hr day. We use to, years ago, but thats also when randy and his team of lawyers chopped out medical out of our retirement benefits. Charma. What comes around goes around. Tiiiiiiiiiime is on my side. yes it is
Did you or did you not apply for the job?
You agreed to the job and its conditions so stop crying.
Its impossible for you to work 12hrs 6 days a week... The O.T cap is 14. All hours worked on your “O” day count towards the cap. Once you have reached your cap you can refuse any work.
Good point. I know a lot of management e d up having to work their weekends and they don’t see another dime. Good to be hourly.
At least your hourly & paid for your time.