AT&T is planning to cut over 3,400 technician and clerical jobs over the next few weeks despite keeping huge Capex on its 4G and 5G network expansion in the United States.
AT&T, the leading US wireless carrier, has already informed its main labour union, the Communications Workers of America, about the decision to cut job of its employees in the nation.
The company also plans to shut over 250 AT&T Mobility and Cricket Wireless stores, impacting 1,300 retail jobs, CWA said. These cuts come amid devastations caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“AT&T could help lead the country toward recovery by partnering with its workforce to build next generation networks. Instead the company is adding to the pain of the recession already underway,” CWA President Chris Shelton said in a statement on Tuesday.
The employees who will be impacted by the job cuts will receive severance pay and health insurance coverage for up to six months.
AT&T informed that the impacted retail employees will receive the offer of another position at the company.
“I want to know where these jobs are going,” said Joe Snyder, president of CWA Local 4302 in Akron, Ohio who has been an AT&T technician for 25 years.
It looks like AT&T is pushing the work to low-paid contractors who do not have the same training, experience, and commitment as CWA members.
