AT&T cutting 12,000 jobs due to "economic pressures"

by Tim Stevens posted Dec 4th 2008 at 10:06AM

AT&T may have about the best selection of choice handsets (smart or otherwise) available in the States right now, and continued iPhone exclusivity has definitely brought a windfall of new subscribers to its wireless division, but Ma Bell wasn't built on cell towers alone. There's still an extensive landline division to support, and it seems the company is leveraging the current economic doldrums to make it a little less so, joining the layoff crowd for the second time this year by shedding a further 12,000 workers (about 4 percent of its workforce), most said to be coming from passé, non-wireless sectors. So, happy holidays, folks -- hope those severance packages get you through the winter.

[Via CellPhonesMarket.com; thanks, SK]

Filed under: ATT

Tags: att, att wireless, AttWireless, economy, landline, layoff

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Highly Ranked

bernardino @ Dec 4th 2008 12:14PM

They'll just outsource or hire a bunch of H1B visas to take the place of these laid off employees.

Highly Ranked

michael @ Dec 4th 2008 2:05PM

Fuck AT&T. I went through a THREE month hiring process, got the position, was WAY over qualified, and two days before training was told "I dont fit in and I dont drink the Kool-Aid". They dont want smart people who are professionals. They want mindless neophytes that can be brain washed into their bullshit 'programs'. They know Wired is fucked. Which is why they have like literally, three-four differnt programs in place to try and get thier 'sales force' to upsell it. And by sales force, I mean 22 year old kid whos only job has been ATT.

As for me, Ive been on "Unpaid leave" and fighting with the cocksuckers to pay me for my time worked. In all of my 33 years, I have never seen a more corrupt, inept, mission statement talking bullshit laden company.

Whens VZW and Alltell merging? That oughtta be fun to watch...

Neutral

michael @ Dec 4th 2008 2:05PM

@bernardino You are100% correct. Thats what there goal is for Wired services. You notice how CallVantage VOIP disappeared and NO ONEs asking any questions to why? They want to force their 'bundle' legacy land line overpriced bullshit down your throat.

Neutral

bernardino @ Dec 4th 2008 5:11PM

Here's a little AT&T story for you. I had cable but wanted to try out AT&T DSL to see if I could save some money. I signed up for the DSL and I decided to sign up for a phone line, since DSL without a line is $10 more and the cheapest line is only $5. The phone line had a $40 activation fee, the DSL had none. They activated the phone line first, then a week later I had DSL. I had signed up in an AT&T store for the 6 Mbps line, but all I was seeing was 3 Mbps. It was fine for traditional browsing, but I noticed when watching Netflix Instant Watch, or any kind of streaming video, it would take a lot longer to load and skipped much more than my cable. Since I didn't get the speed I signed up for, I called back and told them I wanted to cancel my DSL, phone line and to get my $40 back. They offered to change me to the 3 Mpbs price, but refused to refund the $40. The CSR was even snarky enough to say "well sir, if you had called instead of going into a store, we could have confirmed what speed you could get." I had to explain to her how ridiculous it is that ordering in store is any different than ordering over the phone, they're the same AT&T right?

Eventually I had to go the manager route. I was promised a call-back, which I never got, but the second time I called back and asked for the manager, the CSR eventually offered to refund the $40 after I got my first bill. I got my first bill, called and had them take off the $40, along with billing me for the $30 plan instead of the $35 one (they never changed it) and am still playing phone tag to try to get the service prorated (I used the DSL three whole days before cancelling, but they're charging me for the full month).

What a nightmare. I am staying far, far away from AT&T's landline/DSL services. Good luck trying to get me to sign up for your U-Verse service (which they only sell in bundles, no stand-alone internet).

On the other hand, I haven't had any problems with AT&T wireless.

Neutral

peachymomo @ Dec 8th 2008 7:25PM

I called at&t landline to set up internet and home phone about 3 years ago. I was told everything would run about $50 per mont, no problem.
I get my 1st bill and it is almost $2000. I nearly had a heart attack. The reason, they attached someone elses cell phone bill to my account. The cell phone wasn't even in my name and it was for an area code almost 100 miles away from where I live. I called at&t landline and complain, they tried telling me it was mine but when I advised them that I had never even been to tulsa they agreed to remove the charges and to just pay my normal bill.
The next months bill still had the cell phone charges plus a late fee and my normal bill. I called again and I was mad. I ranted and threatened to call the BBB they assured me that the charges would be removed and that they wold waive the late fee. Two weeks laer my service is shut off for non pay. I called again and screamed my head off about the issue. They restored my service and adv that I would not receive any further charges.
The 3rd month I get my bill, the charges are still there for the cell phones and a late fee AND a reconnection fee. I'm at my breaking point. I called them and escalated to a manager. He tried to advise me that it was the wireless sides fault and I told him bull shit because I had already spoke to them. I told them that they had 5 days to fix it or I was going to another carrier. He assured me that it would be fixed and as a courtesy my entire bill would be credited so I wouldn't have to pay for the service.
Four days later my service was suspended AGAIN. I called them up, I cussed I threatened, I pleaded with them to fix it. The answer I got was "well why don't you just pay the entire bill and once we get it fixed we will credit back the charges". I'm not stupid I asked if she thought I was cause I know damn well that I would never see my money again.
I cancelled that day and moved to another carrier. I received my final bill and the cell phone charges were finally removed but I had a final bill of $278 because of late fees reconnection fees and monthly service, all of which was supposed to be adjusted by the manager. I called and complained and was told pay it or go to collections.
It is still sitting on my credit because I refused to pay and they will never receive a dime.