AT&T is cutting more than 3,400 jobs among technicians and office workers, as well as cutting 1,300 jobs in retail, the carrier told Communications Workers of America on Tuesday. The layoffs will affect jobs across the country, with AT&T closing more than 250 AT&T Mobility and Cricket Wireless stores.
"If we are at war to maintain our economy during this [COVID-19] crisis, why AT&T is laying off the troops, "said Chris Shelton, president of the CWA." AT&T could help lead the country to recovery by joining forces with its workforce to build next generation networks. Instead, the company adds to the pain of the recession already underway. "
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AT&T has stated that terminated employees will be offered severance pay and health insurance coverage for up to six months. There is also a voluntary severance package of up to $ 100,000 for wired technicians. Retail workers will be offered another position in the business, most of which will be homework.
CWA said it suspects the work is being imposed on "low-paid entrepreneurs who don't have the same training, experience and commitment as CWA members," said Joe Snyder, president of CWA Local 4302 in Akron, Ohio, and an AT&T technician.
"These actions reflect our focus on growth areas, the decline in customer demand for certain legacy products and the economic impact and changes in customer behavior resulting from the COVID-19[female[feminine pandemic, "said AT&T in an emailed statement." There will be targeted but significant reductions in our workforce among the executives, managers and employees represented by the unions. "
. As a result, there will be targeted but significant reductions in our workforce among the executives, managers and employees represented by the unions, in line with our transformation initiative previously announced. In addition, we will eliminate more self-employed workers - the vast majority of whom are outside the United States - than we are managers or unionized workers. Reducing our workforce is a difficult decision that we do not take lightly. For employees who leave under these changes, we offer severance pay and company-provided health care coverage up to 6 months for eligible employees. "
