We need to do like the automanufacturers and management level jobs need there pay deferred to pay the frontlines in homes hazzard pay I would love to see my managers face when he had to work no pay maybe then he would appreciate we are risking our lives right now
37 replies (most recent on top)
Probably was drunk when this was composed, he/she slurred their writing. :-/
@1ias+14flpht8....Yep, you nailed it. The same can probably be said for most of his union buddies too.
- -Thanks
This is a run on sentence...I shall make additional corrections below:
We need to do like the automanufacturers (spelling, these are 2 separate words, and there should be a comma here) and management level jobs need there (their) pay deferred to pay the frontlines in homes hazzard (spelling) pay (period) I would love to see my managers face when he had to work (with) no pay (comma) maybe then he would appreciate (how or that) we are risking our lives right now (period)
Only at T does an illiterate like this guy thrive. Sad thing is that probably some time ago, a hiring manager reviewed his application and resume and decided to hire him anyway, despite the fact he cannot spell or compose a sentence. When I was in that position, they went right into the garbage. It's not the fact that the grammar and spelling is so bad; more that they are clearly too lazy to get someone to proofread and correct.
The carmaker's GM specifically deferred 20% pay for I don't know how many months paid early next year with 6% interest - their entire pay wasn't deferred. also please remember that management isn't only your bosses it's a good chunk of the company that aren't bosses.
If you are not doing work, you shouldn't be paid. This ain't welfare.
@xhl+14flpht8...Think you posted in the wrong thread friend.
Ever notice how some people are quick to criticize and tell you what to do but when their butt may be on the line it suddenly becomes your cross to bear. “Do as I say, not what I do” comes to mind. Hypocrisy at its best. We are in this all together as long as you are taking the risk, is their motto.
I agree with your assessment of discipline. Our group was threatened with b forms right up to the day that the union was able to get the company to stop this nonsense while the virus is raging. We learned to take screenshots to CYA because with all the offshoring and rebadging they can’t keep our results recorded properly. Our managers first thought is we are always the issue. They/He’s been proven wrong nearly every time. I guess it’s from the pressure of the 3rd & 2nd level beating him down about metrics no matter what they are about. I don’t think he’s going to last much longer. Big data micromanaging strikes again!
Sorry about how much you dislike your job brother. Wish I could help, but it’s your problem to deal with. If the only way to make yourself feel better about it is to drag someone else into your misfortune, then that’s your problem to deal with as well. Best of luck.
Reading about busy work reminds me of the WiFi assessment & True test. There is a place for some fat to be cut, slows down techs. Most techs now have 7+ years experience and don’t need micromanaging from afar. We can tell when a customer needs WiFi plus SMH app can do that now. The plant doesn’t need analysis It’s old, degraded and no longer maintained except extreme cases. They can analyze,make spreadsheets, look at info up, down and sideways but nothing will change in the field except now we just have another task to used for discipline. Despite what staff tells you, it’s always the case.
@xue Thou doth protest too much!
Bye, bye. Noticed you didn’t volunteer all your wisdom and take one for the team and join us (not that you could). Guess you are back to sheltering in place. Don’t worry us wee little entitled techs will continue being at risk so you can continue getting your check.
I’ve volunteered in past to help management but that’s just me. Hey, you’re welcome to join us in the field anytime in this current environment. Atlanta is waiting. Bless Your Heart!
Sorry about hurting your feelings buddy. No, I didn’t lose the “debate”. All you did was provide examples of busy work that YOU call productive. Just moving on as I’m tired of conversing with entitled union folks like yourself and contrary to your last statement, I’m not upset in the least about being on the management side of the house at T. I wouldn’t go back to craft even if you offered me a raise and paid relocation. Not interested at all in ever going back to that environment. I enjoy taking on responsibility and constantly enhancing my skills to align with current market needs so I don’t fall behind. Union tech is basically a dead end as far as I’m concerned since you don’t place any value on individuality, skill or knowledge. You care only about the collective and seniority. Nope, not interested at all. No Thanks.
I see you are really apoplectic about the Union’s negotiated raises and seniority. You must have been low in seniority so you took management hoping to save your job. Now that it’s not the Utopia you thought, you sound scared and are lashing out because of all the surpluses that have been happening.
Look around you, do you think all managers are paid the same? Why do you think there is a range of pay for each position? Don’t you think the longer some in a same level the higher their pay? Are all of your peers innovative, self starter’s and deserving of more than the next genius beside you. Lazy & s— ups are just in the human race. Your position, intelligence, knowledge or wealth has no bearing. Life’s not fair.
Sorry, but you have lost the debate. Anyone that resorts to name calling and being condescending is firing blanks. What’s next, Yo Momma’s so Fat, You are a xenophobic or Experience doesn’t matter we just kept you around as a mascot.
I detailed some productive work but all you are interested in is revenue, casualty of war be da$$med. Every business like ours has to do maintenance, it’s the cost of business. I think some of the Billions our company is saving in tax relief would pay for a few months. That’s not counting the millions in raises our leaders got this year.
There are already Techs in Ga, Ohio & Michigan that have Covid-19 that’s just the ones we know about. We don’t get Safety Flashes on those measured statistics. Maybe a big tough guy/gal like you would like to fill in for them since you are so adamant about the revenue stream. I’m sure the crews won’t mind you helping out with all your smarts & knowledge. There is a nice hotspot in the Atlanta area waiting for you because they are missing a whole crew due to one testing positive.
As to your question/deflection toward the OP post. I think this guy is angry and lashing out. It’s a stupid, despicable post and he should repost with apology. I have a lot of managers friends and being on either side of the contract doesn’t matter to us. We treat each other with dignity and respect.
You forgot the twenty texts and 30 emails we get everyday we are supposed to read between working on the 4 or 5 jobs we’ve been bulked. Constantly calling or having to text manager due to micromanaging. Watch this video, read that update, have you done that training yet, you aren’t in compliance. Also, have to inventory your dwindling supplies and order on upfront which, comes intermittently. A lot of time lost daily with poor cell connection & software that is constantly being updated and works half the time. Smart chatting and taking forever on the “chatbot” the usually doesn’t work or in a long que for support. Etc.. etc...
@ltn+14flpht8 ....You’re useless man. You can explain busy work any which way you want to drive your narrow point of view home. I can tell you’re really hung up on this seniority thing and number of years of service which is the battle cry for nearly all union folks. I think you are somehow confusing acquired skill with just doing the same thing over and over for years on end. I can’t tell you how many techs I’ve been around who “worked” on something for 10, 20, 30, 40 years who still have no concept of the core fundamentals for whatever they were “working” on. That’s the thing about the union man, you don’t have to self motivate to learn additional skills or even enhance skills you already have, because you gonna get paid the same as every other union tech regardless of skill and you get guaranteed pay raises every contract like clockwork. You folks live in a dream world and want us all to believe that it’s reality. Enough Management vs Union talk for now. How about you respond to the original post. If managers need to give up pay for the frontline worker “because”, then why can’t the frontline worker give up pay to perform non-essential work.
I’m not going to engage in naming calling and stereotyping. I don’t appreciate your condescending tone. This is a crisis and lives are at stake.
I also can’t take your 14 yrs. of experience of moving around between a lot of titles and orgs as being a SME. I’m sure that was a long time ago as evidenced by your comments. You seem to be focused on the Deg/Business side and excluded talking about the CO, Construction and Plant Engineer side. I have 40 + and still don’t know it all.
- I&R techs are some of the most versatile techs in the field and can do a lot of other title’s roles. Where do you think Air pressure resided for years. Several still have their CDL’s and most started in Construction. They could be teamed up with other current techs and still do productive work. There usually is a lead tech in these situations.
- Plant engineering assistance would involve techs, looking at pole transfers, BIC jobs, field work surveying road moves, cable/strand height measurements, anchors etc.. Check on new items of plant like PFP’s, Ont’s etc.. verifying plant/cables/ducts/interdicts in manholes, handholes etc.. for upcoming jobs because records are incorrect. Reviewing EWO. Been there have done all of this and more in the past. Who do you think turns in as-builts when prints/jobs are incorrect. We have to reengineer half the jobs in the field. Engineers ask for our opinions all the time. Some of this work overlaps with Construction.
A few techs could help CO wiring, removing left-ins and other work. Doing Construction work is a no brainer. Labeling Xboxes isn’t just slapping a sticker on a door. The new bulk initiative and spreading techs way beyond their normal turfs. It has made it difficult identifying counts in xboxes we haven’t been to before. Most are mislabeled or missing altogether. We spend a lot of time trying to figuring out ports and other counts.
To address your concerns about organization of store rooms, vehicles, yards. NO! We dont have time anymore in this micromanaged environment. Building gets somewhat cleaned and toilet paper added once a month if we are lucky, everything is disgusting. Dumpsters and trash are overflowing. All kind of materials on the ground in the yard in direct violation of Osha & EPA. We have to get off the yard in 20min or less. Return in less time. So, cleaning off vehicle, closing out, storing devices, securing vehicle etc... Morning dispatch involves picking up job writing down info. calling 1st & 2nd dispatches ahead, picking route, opening and storing any new supplies etc.. Managers put blinders on because they have to meet metrics or they are toast. Storerooms are a mess and no one has time to do inventory since we don’t have storeroom folks except few locations and they are limited on what they can do.
This is just a summary, more could be said but I’m tired of typing. End of day, Techs are very concerned and have anxiety. Not to recognize that it is asinine.
How would you like it if Ebola was discovered in your work environment but you were told same as we are, it’s your job drama queen, s— it up buttercup, PPE is on the way. BAU, it’s your job. Keep going into that office we are trying to keep you Safe as possible. The ends justify the means.
The end!
The funny part of the 20/80 ratio for management is that it started with a 10/90 ratio of techs.
You are correct not all managers are right for the job. Chances are they were the kiss a– or the union rep. Either way they didn’t do much “work” to begin with, we all know the type. Talks a good game but never actually accomplished anything. Working harder to game the system rather than get the work done. Same group who cared so much about their health and the health of their family until 20% pay bump was the appropriate risk/reward ratio.
@brj+14flpht8: “80/20 Sounds like most managers I’ve worked with over 30+ years 20 % are good 80 % are worthless!!“. LOL, yeah I can’t disagree with you on that (Well, the ratio isn’t quite right, but.....). I’ve definitely met/known some bad ones for sure. What else????
80/20 Sounds like most managers I’ve worked with over 30+ years 20 % are good 80 % are worthless!!
- This isn’t a union or management issue, it’s a human crisis (Agreed, it shouldn’t be about management vs. union, but you union fools are pushing that every chance you get)
- Installers aren’t asking for free money, to go home and not work. Just asking to “triage” non essential work for safety. Outside forces do some of the most dangerous and physical work in the company seven days a week 365 days a year. Calling them lazy is non-productive and not true. Lazy people don’t have a specific title or position, I think everyone can agree on that. I respect both sides of the contract (Somewhat agree..Some union folks are genuinely hard workers and truly valuable, but the ratio is 20% good to 80% bad. Most are in it for the money and have no work ethic or care whatsoever. You can keep spewing the dangerous and physical verbiage all you want drama queen. I worked as a cable splicer, I&R, DEG and Specials for 14 years and their is a reason why most outside techs are fat and out of shape)
- There is some latitude within the contracts (Show me..............)
- FT’s and ST’s can surely be loaned to DEG/Business, but what would they do in that space specifically? Maintain DLC and NGDLC systems? Install/maintain SONET, MSPP and MSTP equipment, Perform power routines at RT sites, Install/maintain T1 lines and ASE/ADE circuits and managed services, Perform complex PBX and VoIP system installation and maintenance? Are they test qualified, trained and experienced to perform those functions? Can you elaborate? Tell me how it would work. How exactly would an FT or ST without any pneumatics training or experience or equipment get along in the air pressure environment? Also, maybe you can explain how an FT or ST is going to “assist” an Outside Plant Engineer. I’d love to hear it......
- So, according to you, it would be totally sweet for FT’s, ST’s and WT’s to come into work everyday and just meander around performing non-essential expense labor work slapping labels on SAI’s, removing dead jumpers and freeing up BP’s at those same SAI’s, driving around looking for “low” ASW’s and sitting at the office, straightening up vehicles and storerooms (this doesn’t happen already?? You’re not expected to keep your vehicle organized and stocked on a daily basis anymore??)??? Sounds like a great deal for the union employee, but not so much for the company. I’m fairly certain you and your union brethren wouldn’t be up for discussing a reduction in wages to perform all this busy work instead of your actual assigned work functions to ease the expense labor cost for the company.
Several things you stated aren’t factual and disingenuous.
- This isn’t a union or management issue, it’s a human crisis
- Installers aren’t asking for free money, to go home and not work. Just asking to “triage” non essential work for safety. Outside forces do some of the most dangerous and physical work in the company seven days a week 365 days a year. Calling them lazy is non-productive and not true. Lazy people don’t have a specific title or position, I think everyone can agree on that. I respect both sides of the contract
- There is some latitude within the contracts
- FT’s & ST’s installers (I&R) can work on BPC’s, maintenance packages, relabel SAI’s and dispatch on customer repairs that are low risk. They also can be loaned to Construction or assist with CO, DT & Air Pressure, Engineering work. This has been done on smaller scale many times before. This happens during other State emergencies such as, snowstorms, hurricanes, flooding, fires, light duty, etc...
- Wire/Prem techs could do a button up project on low ASW drops or incorrectly installed drops and other related work. Additionally they could rerun incorrectly ran jumpers in SAI/xboxes that hasn’t been addressed for a long time and has become a big problem. Ports and binding post aren’t accessible in a lot of SAI for this reason.
- Techs could also straighten up neglected storerooms and vehicles. Also do inventory on trucks and reorganize. Techs don’t have time to do these things anymore.
All of these suggestions would mitigate techs, families and communities exposure to a very contagious virus. We need to be good corporate leaders and patriots. Our country is depending on everyone doing their part.
There would also be a payoff for the company in a much improved plant and more efficient working environment. The company used to do this on a smaller scale back in the day, it is productive work until we can get past this pandemic. This is only a part of the revenue stream. People are still paying for their existing services.
No job is so important or service so urgent that we can’t take the time to perform our work in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.
Ratty needs to leave.
Stinky needs to leave.
Zucher needs to leave.
The Board of MisDirectors needs to leave.
None of the above will defer any compensation. Why should lower level management be any different?
@vyg...So you don’t fall into the category of high risk payout and you aren’t sick, but you do have a couple of options if you truly are concerned for your own health or your immediate families. You can always take unpaid time away from work or use PTO to stay home until the immediate threat is over. It looks like a lot of your response was geared toward “I wanna get paid to not work”, so it’s doubtful that you would even consider these options in the face of such dire straits (as you put it anyway). AT&T is just trying to not shut it’s revenue generating operations down completely during this difficult time and I can appreciate that. If the union had it their way, all installation and provisioning operations would be halted and a bare minimum of repair work would take place, but they would all want to be at work getting paid in full or sitting at the house making full wages to not do squat. Don’t forget that the current labor contracts in all regions prevent a lot of flexible work transition between organizations and skill groups in C&E and AFO which means you can’t just go do something else besides residential installs and repairs if that’s your normal full time job.
@oqd
Thanks for the English lesson. Is it their genius? Or there genius?
Glass houses
You’re welcome union fodder!!!! I didn’t introduce a clause or phrase or use it as an adverb so it’s possessive “Their”. I’m glad you spent all night looking it up to still get it wrong though. Typical union loser. It’s no wonder your still running around kicking dirt as a L0 employee.
I’m mostly reading about techs that are doing installs and they have very legitimate concerns. I haven’t seen anyone post about all the other techs/managers that are working low risk jobs. This isn’t the military or infectious control where people know the dangers, risk and still signup. This is a decision being made by people that aren’t at-risk. Forcing techs into a potentially deadly encounter for a lot of non essential work. It’s easy to condescend while being in a safe location, behind the wire so to speak.
Just because managers are working hard to acquire PPE doesn’t make it a less safe, “check is in the mail” to quote a phrase. I keep reading, “Safe as possible” whatever that means. I’m sure that is very comforting for techs going into the unknown. Techs are very anxious and some have high risk family members that they are going home to everyday not to mention high risk customers. There isn’t any paid leave options for these situations, only after the fact when someone is infected.
There are over 12,000 Italian healthcare that have been infected to date and they have much better PPE than we are providing our techs. 1,000 + of them have died so my question to you is how many techs, families and community members are you ok with infecting or dying? 10, 50, 100, 1,000 etc... ? The infection rate is about to drastically spread according to the leading experts with projections of 100,000 to over 2 million Americans dying alone. That doesn’t include the long term health effects, less lung capacity & heart damage. It’s still a Big unknown.
Yes we need to provide “essential” services but most installs aren’t. We should show leadership & compassion in this difficult time. This too shall pass but until then stay safe and let’s stop these installs for awhile.
If the OP wants to give his 20% temporary bonus to the company, fine with me. I'll keep my salary thanks. The company just declared a dividend. Non-sense
@upk+14flpht8: “Come out a show us, arm chair warrior”. Hello, I’m English, have we met? I think you missed a few letters and punctuation their genius.
@iod+14flpht8: “Another brave warrior, risking his life. You guys are getting a bit over the top with the drama. Shaddup and do your job”. Holy Shyte man, I was gonna say the same thing. These union folks act like it’s WWlll or something. Get a grip guys. The Field Ops leadership teams are working hard to make sure you have the right PPE and ensure customer contact strategies are being implemented to help keep you as safe as possible. Your L1 and L2 managers are just doing the best they can in a difficult situation. This isn’t affecting all of the frontline field technicians as much as they would have you believe either. Mobility wireless techs, C&E splicers, Business/DEG, Central Office, Air Pressure are not being exposed the same way residential premise and service techs are.
Majority of us union guys only have animosity towards the decision makers not the managers trying to support their families and get ahead like us. The decision makers have made a very bad call and some techs or their family will pay with their lives as COVID-19 spreads. Hope their conscience can handle it. You reap what you sow!
Company could stack install orders with exceptions, until peak has passed
Sounds like someone has no idea how many "management" employees exist in IT for example that by definition have no management responsibility. Crazy to think they should not be paid.
Come out a show us, arm chair warrior
you act like your managers are the ones making the rules. They’re following orders from someone else just like you are. The company makes billions of dollars. Instead of reducing someone else’s pay to pay you all more, they should just be paying everyone more.
Another brave warrior, risking his life. You guys are getting a bit over the top with the drama. Shaddup and do your job.
Yeah like managers don't have families to support too. Good thinking....you are a real person of genius and greed.