I work for a contractor laying fiber in Michigan. My boss told me today that he was informed that dozens of fiber projects are being put on hold while ATT “re-evaluates the needs of the business”. He doesn’t know how long he can keep us all working.
Anyone else have work drying up in other states? I relocated here to work, may need to do so again....
These projects are on hold to allow the company to discharge the number of employees they want without the union crying about contractors still working. Once the headcount is down the projects will proceed as normal.
“re-evaluates the needs of the business”
This pretty much translates into AT&T is prioritizing their projects.
For example, Corporate Real Estate is trying to sell quite a few buildings as it is the quickest way to pay down the immense amount of debt the company is now carrying. However, in order to do so, the company has to remove all of the operational equipment which resides within those buildings some of which are connecting access sites back to the distribution layer.
Any building which houses a primary or secondary distribution router can potentially be feeding hundreds of access sites scattered across the State. All of which have to be converted over to new architecture.
So, the last I heard anyway, these sites are top priority as AT&T has deadlines to be out of these sites. Everything else was put on the back burner.
Contractors ?? oh that's too bad.wtf..you are employed as needed pal.
Of course projects are on hold elsewhere. They are trying to cut costs.