Thread regarding AT&T layoffs

Oh this is an easy one to answer.

It's because one CO tech is responsible for multiple offices ( usually anywhere from 6-12 ) now. The days of each CO having a group of dedicated techs within it are long gone.

They are operating at skeleton crew levels as it is.

When we need to ' borrow ' a CO tech for a project in any given office, it has to be coordinated with the CO manager ( who handles probably 30+ offices ) to make sure they have coverage for all those offices that will be without a tech for the duration of the project.

Basically, if they want to get the work done in those offices, they really can't cut any more folks from it.

I remember it also, touch nothing and if it can be deferred to Tuesday; defer it, pretty simple.

@ZpBhMIG-2aaj - you don’t remember the “play strike” which was a 4 day Friday thru Monday walk out? ... tha’s right... no Prem Tech Title back then... anyways... it was a walkout because the Union was working without a contract and the the Company was not bargaining in good faith... ... Managers were required to backfill into their strike assignments.... ... many were in position they worked prior to going management... ... many had the experience.... ... don’t be that arrogant person the assumes their ignorance is correct...

"I worked a strike as a CO Tech!"

If you were an essential "manager" AT&T would have not sent you for strike duty. That is a fact.

Also, during a strike, the company allows no changes to the network so non essential managers (AKA strike breakers) don't phuck up the network. That is why you were only allowed to tinker in pots. Think about it. Feeling large yet? Yeah you might.

And, when exactly was this strike? That's what I thought. You are full of $hit. I just wanted to entertain your delusions.

Please entertain us with more stories.

I worked a strike as a CO Tech! It rocked! I mean, what more can you ask for in a “job”! POTS and DSL are dead products! Run a jumper or 2, troubleshoot a faulty repeater, and your done for the day. There is nothing to do in a CO. My CO manager said the CO tech jobs were reserved for the union goons w/the most seniority. They work maybe an hour a day. Hoping the union strikes, so I can get assigned as a CO tech, and kick back and relax! Go Union! Your dues are worthless if you don’t strike! Long live the power of equality, and zero reason to do your very least best! Lol!

I'm no CO tech, but CO tech is a lot of work. I don't think bitter VPN boy gets the idea of getting off your bu** and going to work. Some things actually still exist in the real world and aren't virtualized.

AT&T could surplus everyone in 100 Central offices and might get 25 techs off the payroll. That's conservative. Out of those, maybe 1 in 10 I&R techs could pass the test to replace them. Do you like those odds? You will need to learn a little bit more than tip and ring, and don't tell me the sidekick it a sophisticated piece of test gear.. You might need to learn about multi kilowatt power generators, switch-gear, massive battery plants, rectifiers, power converters, everything there is to know about T1, D4, ISDN and analog data circuits. All of which is old tech, but learned on the job. Now, you will need to learn about IPAG, GPON, and you might be well to be versed in IP technology, you know that 255.255.255.001 you might have seen somewhere but don't have a fricken clue what it means. If in doubt, ask a prem tech, they know IP.

Maybe you think frame share/take will allow you to replace the Central Office tech job. Well I am a CO tech and I can tell you that copper is about 5-10% of our work load these days. So, you can have it, and please charge an hour to do what takes us 5 minutes to do, and do it repeatedly. Nothing better than a CO parking lot full of bucket trucks sitting idle working "frame" orders to prove where there is waste.

Yeah, we don't just run jumpers and change filters, we mind our own business until some clown needs calling out. Take care, In Solidarity....

Normally cover 14 Bldgs off shift with furthest drive between 1hr 10mins. When other guy off have to cover 28 Bldgs. How much further should we be targeted? Thin as it gets. BTW 2 hi-cap 65min tkts, 9 cuts, 7x50 upgrade, SLC trbl and yes 1 filter change yesterday.

So many of them have really high seniority. Subtract what their pension/surplus buy-outs would be from their pay and the company is basically getting them to work for minimum wage.

The fiber work that C&E is or has done will negatively impact a lot of jobs as customers are rolled to that fiber. Ask the Core techs that worked in heavy Uverse build areas. Repair trouble in the F1 basically disappeared after the fiber was run to the Vrads. That is not counting the wireless substitution that will occur in the rural areas if that quality upgrade actually occurs.

To "Mr. Construction", that's some funny $h1t right there, lol

The only people doing any work around here that matters is C&E. And it looks like we are gonna be taking a hit by the end of next week.

lets see, besides fiber runs and filters, there encoders, servers, switches, data centers all in different locations some across the state. not to mention upgrades , installing and configuring servers and switches, troubleshooting, power converters, DC and AC , UPS , circuit breakers, batter strings, ect, ect ect. i could go on but u get the picture..overworked and under paid....cheers..

Busiest folks in the company.....haha

CO techs have such reduced headcount they may be the busiest folks in the company.

Multiple offices, often many miles apart.

We used to have at least 16 COTs for our 9 COs.

Last I heard 5 remain.

I was an outside tech, but to say all they do is run jumpers and swap filters is uninformed.

Sorry but in my Experience Frame techs are extremely hard workers! I’ve worked with them for over 20 years....It’s not their fault the company has got rid of so many of them they so overburdened I feel bad for them. So these posters that open their mouth and spew out BS! They have no clue what they’re talking about just trolling.

Technology is dumbing down or eliminating a lot of jobs. Was a time when your phone didn’t work and it meant a visit by a technician. I have yet to call in a repair ticket when my smart phone has issues.

COs are already strapped as far as I can tell. Personally they need to get a second CO tech for my area because they work the one guy too hard.

Co work is skilled and needed. Running jumpers isn't hard, some CO techs have issues doing it from time to time:) ....some field techs can come in and handle stuff, some can $crew up the world. Need good folks who know what their doing when it comes to turn up and troubleshooting. The Company has a bad habit of dumbing down all craft jobs. Like I say, they don't pay us for when things go right, they pay is for when things go wrong.

Well if all you know is just tip and ring, and some color codes, you might think that is all the CO techs do. Sorry to say, but much of that is going away. Meanwhile the CO techs are plenty busy dealing the newer technology. At this point pots repair is just a distraction and interuption to our daily work load.

OP clearly has no clue what the CO techs do. I’m not a CO tech , but I see what what they do. They have to program and maintain the old equipment and the new equipment simultaneously and they have to constantly bounce between COs as most of them are already gone. Those that remain have to do much more with less , just like the rest of us. Their knowledge is vast and no , field techs can’t just walk in and do what they do. OP IS TALKING OUT HIS a--.

...”it’s good In here...send the ticket outside”...well, when you haven’t had a trouble in the CO in 30 years, they might surplus ya!

The OP is most likely not a Tech at all. If he or she were he would already know that all of the CO Techs are pretty much already gone (you dumba$$). The few they have left are running between 5 or 6 offices per day on a c-appy rotating schedule every few days. Get of their backs You S Of S.

And No, I am not a CO Tech; but, I know plenty of them. The COs are for the most part empty; so, You obviously have no clue what You are talking about as usual.

OP and others crying about Frame and NTECS are typical arrogant whiners... quit deflecting and take the Surplus Bullet like a man... all you guys do is cry... ... you’re lucky the CO personnel put up with you folks... stay out the break rooms and go do some work whiner....

Ridiculous - while the otechs are protected by the union, we co techs are the sacrificial lamb. You guys are trying to claw your way into the co’s work share more like work take. We don’t sit around waiting for your POTS trouble, we’re four walls every service and equipment bolted into the co we maintain. We have been targeted every year for reduction only reason it doesn’t go to surplus is because of the amount of seniority in this title. Hold please I’ll shelve this 10ge trouble and give you a short at the frame - rummy

What in the world are you talking about OP? There are hardly any CO personnel even left at this point.

The last CO the OP must have been in was a step office.

CO techs are unneeded, The field can handle all of the frame work as well as the new turn ups and 10 gig Ethernet installs and do all of the routines as well. And all of the OE and TRE changes too.. Plus, all of the fire safety, and building environmental stuff. Plus power. Yep. And you can have the 65 minute tickets on the OC-48 level as well. Yep. CO techs do nothing.

Theyve offered vsp and had plenty of takers every year. Older group.

1. Were an older bunch and none have been replaced since 2000. 3/4 of us have retired

2. Were getting to bare minimum to keep up with the optical service order load.

Yeah! Lots of THOSE guys still around....