Thread regarding AT&T layoffs

@ks "
Remember that video training that used a game controller? I think it was called GOSE. It was like playing the WORST video game in the world!"

That was HORRIBLE!!! LOL! Trying to identify a stain on the floor of a power room in 8-bit color. What a bad joke that was...

Remember that video training that used a game controller? I think it was called GOSE. It was like playing the WORST video game in the world! I learned nothing, other than a test of my patience. :-)

Management stepped in during the last strike. Easy peasy

The web based training was brutal which had to be completed in between seeing customers, meetings, administrative tasks, etc etc. Then there were deadlines to get all the training completed by a designated date. I'm talking like 60-80 hours of course material.. Every weekend for 3-4 weeks I did that miserable training. Next came the travel to do live training. It was nerve wracking. Everyone was elated when the strike threat did not materialize.

@fk Dude are you reading these posts? No one says, including the company, that CP training is remotely sufficient or adequate for people to transfer their 'CP training' knowledge as a skilled replacement into the roles they're assigned to cover in the event of a stoppage.
Nobody who's ever worked during a strike or simply done the training thinks they can replace people with many years of experience.
The original post questioned the need to have continuity plans in place. The answer is yes.
I might add that anyone can skip taking the computer training, avoid showing up for in person training or not show up for an assignment. Decisions always have consequences.

"Anyone who thinks Contingency Planning and preparation is odd or unnecessary needs to be educated."

REAL training is obviously necessary.

"Watch this video and you're trained" is a joke. I'm "fh" a former CO tech, network manager and extremely tech saavy and mechanically inclined.

The training is laughable!

As someone deployed from out of state for 5 weeks for the last SE strike:

• Everything was far from BAU
• An incredible amount was spent on travel and associated costs, like airfare, daily hotels, rental cars, and meals.
• The training was cr-p, and few tools were available, especially in CO's
• Many of us barely got any assigned work, as the systems were that f'ed up
• At week 4, there were plans for more training, but a settlement was near. Mgmt was clearly losing.
• Some managers simply refused to deploy, with zero reprocussions

I'm so glad I'm now retired.

Amazon, IBM, Meta, all u.s. banks, US Treasury and many other businesses, all have continuity plans in place to ensure business operations can continue in the event of a major interruption to the business. Companies that fail to plan for disruptions typically fold as a result.
Anyone who thinks Contingency Planning and preparation is odd or unnecessary needs to be educated.

Last strike management handled the load well. Not even a blip on the radar.

As one of the 'degreed business professionals', contingency planning is not a topic discussed anytime during interviewing or on boarding. If it had been revealed, it wouldn't have been a determining factor in accepting the position. I think when we covered a strike we all received a $1,000 bonus.

@c2 I'm already gone! I had enough and left. Won't see you on the commute! :-D

@e2 That must have been the McVest brigade that was dispatched. You know the type, put on an ill fitting vest and now you are a cool tech guy. All show and zero substance.

@a6
The overtime going back to fix all the “closed” tickets was fantastic. Most customers said the previous “techs” were a couple guys in polyester khakis and shiny vests that stared up at the pole then drove away.

CP training is undoubtedly the most challenging part of preparing for a potential work stoppage. No question, it's a lot and no one wants to do it. One year I prepared for a call center, it was crazy. Multiple systems were taught and I'm certain none of the managers in the training retained much, like myself.
The point is to have enough people in place who can handle rudimentary tasks (that was us taking the training) as well as skilled professionals who handled the complex issues. Thankfully I didn't need to demonstrate my CP 'skills'.

Grandpa time to let go.

I completed CP training roughly every 3 years before retiring. The only thing I learned during that CP training was how to take CP training. I didn't learn a darn thing about how to do the job I was assigned to do during any work stopage.

Management handled it well during the last strike. Almost like there was no impact.

@ab Yeah but I get like $55/hr with the orange contract. 3.5 more years will be $60/hr. And we don’t let ourselves get je-ked around too hard. Mobility managers have no clue what we do so the power balance is still on or side. But ultimately, I’m waiting for VTP.

@ab
If they didn't unionize Mobility techs, they would have contracted out ALL the work years ago.

It's called business continuity, which every Fortune 100 has in place. Don't worry, if you're assigned for example as an I&R tech, you're paired up with a former worker who knows the ropes. I was a data consultant who was paired up with a director who began his career as a tech. We rode around in a bucket truck repairing business customers and I did what I was told since I was clueless. We cleared more tickets daily than the regular techs. No brag btw. It was a grueling 3 days but the work got done.
My hat is tipped to the men and women who regularly do those jobs. Everyone did their part to assist our customers. Business continuity.

I’ve done CP training and CP assignments a few times. This last round I said sc--w it. The company doesn’t give a s about me, so why should I care back. Had my doctor put in a medical exemption for the lifting and ladder climbing. My assignment got cancelled.

I have a similar career trajectory as yours as a non bargained for worker.

I too was d-mbfounded at the colossal waste of time and resources.

The whole thing is a joke. A sham. A dog and pony show that is in no way based in any reality. Complete and utter nonsense.

On the Mobility side, they never should have unionized the field and MTSO techs, thus ushering in this type of nonsense (not the Union’s fault though). The reality is the Unions have done nothing for those workers over the years. They were well treated and compensated beforehand. All it did was bring the backwards mentality in and drive wedges between management and techs. Completely unnecessary.

The first time I had a CP assignment, I was working a PT retail job. When I described to my PT co-workers the whole CP process/training etc. they thought I was joking.

I put it bluntly to help them better understand…say your job is in HR in recruiting and the CP powers that be assign you to an I&R role. You are now expected to climb ladders, climb poles, get in pits and then have the knowledge to actually fix the technical problem. This is after taking questionable on-line courses and possibly instructor lead training.

The look on their faces was priceless and said it all… -TF

@a4 No matter how archaic or ludicrous they may be.

@a4 Only at AT&T. :-)

I was deployed during the most recent strike. It was awesome, almost like a vacation. Easy work and we actually closed on all the open tickets we had.

There was a strike a year or two ago. They did deploy contingency workers and they handled the load surprisingly well. There was almost no dip in productivity and it was a very bad look for the union.

As a manager, it is your duty to support contingency operations.