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SBC CWA Strike Imminent

Posted by timothy on from the piece-of-the-pie-or-we-stick-you dept.

Tmack writes "SBC union workers are preparing (again) to strike after negotiations have broken down between CWA and SBC. What this means to the average person? As long as the strike is taking place, orders for new service and repair of existing services with SBC will be delayed as only non-union workers and temps will be around to complete the work. Latest word is the strike is now planned for Friday night through next Tuesday. Check here(1), here(2), and here(3) for more info."

9 of 572 comments (clear)

  1. Who? What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I can't be the only person here who has no idea what this is about...

  2. Hmmm... by corporate_ai · · Score: 5, Funny

    Does this mean I can stop paying my bill 'cause no one will be there to shut my service off?

    --
    "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
  3. A little locale by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Isn't this a little localized of a topic to be posted on Slashdot? I mean we have strikes here in New York all the time and I don't see it making the front page. I mean even if it affects 13 states that is not that much in the grand scale of things. Con-Ed goes on strike and it might only affect one state but that includes around 8-10 million people.

    Someone could at least explain if this will have an effect on us.

    1. Re:A little locale by StuWho · · Score: 5, Funny
      "SBC union workers are preparing (again) to strike after negotiations have broken down between CWA and SBC"

      SBC is the Somalian Bodybuilders Co-op, they are in dispute with the Cameroon Weightlifting Association (CWA). Something about stolen training methods.

      It's only really relevant because Microsoft fund SBC.

      --
      "If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments." Earl Wilson
  4. Uhh... by Ranger+Rick · · Score: 5, Funny

    Your TLAs are DOA, why R U not bothering 2 explain WTF U R talking about?

    IOW, who/what are SBC and CWA?

    --

    WWJD? JWRTFM!!!

  5. opinion of SBC from a retiree by grag · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I heard my dad make some mention of this a few days ago. Of course, this doesn't surprise me. My father spoke of SBC cutting retirement benefits in the future just to get people to retire early before the lower benefits took place.

    He also spoke of his animosity towards SBC because of their push for Technicians to get more jobs completed in less time. Thus, you get people doing a job and meeting the most basic requirements to complete the job, so they end up closing out the job quickly.

    My dad has a wall of Customer Service awards, but his managers would always complain about his inability to close jobs out quickly. My dad always told them he'd much rather take his time and make sure the customer is happy than do a barely-done job with a disgruntled customer.

    Oh well, it doesn't matter now. The older generation of Technicians who actually care about the customer are retiring while newer non-union/contractors fill the slots

    Even my dad doesn't have SBC for his phones anymore, even with the retiree discount

  6. Wait a minute... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... only non-union people will be working, so getting things done will take *longer* ?

  7. And we will be able to notice what difference? by FinderS · · Score: 5, Funny

    I mean, honestly. Having no technicians to fix things will mean what exactly?

    An anecdote from my personal experience with them...

    SBC was supposed to install DSL at my home. The equipment for my end came and I hooked it up, waiting for the date service was supposed to start. The day comes and goes with no DSL. I call them the next day and spend several hours on the phone with a tech. Finally, he comes to the conclusion that I don't seem to have DSL service.

    In fact, he can't even find record of the order, despite them having sent me equipment. We get off the phone, and I am called not once, but three times by different companies they apparently contract with to let me know that my DSL service is down.

    Finally, they get their act together and fix the problem. Over the next three days I received four phone calls and two in-person visits letting me know that they fixed my DSL service.

    Never mind how SBC used to call me at my old address trying to sell me DSL (which wasn't offered in my area at the time). We actually ordered it the first time, and it took them two months of hassles to get the to admit they don't offer it in our area and get a refund for the two months of service they charged us for.

    So I ask, how would I be able to tell that there was a strike? Oh, my phone wouldn't ring off the hook with notifications of information I already know.

    ~Dan

  8. I'm one of the guys that gets to fill in... by Shuasha · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yeah, like I said above... I personally feel that the Union has outlived it's usefulness.. SBC pretty much gave them most of the major things they wanted. The two main sticking points are: 1: Medical Copays.. currently the Union guys don't have to pay any medical premiums, and a small copay for each visit. SBC will still pay their premiums, but raise the copays a bit.. but that's still way the hell better than the "Management" employees get. 2: Job Security.. SBC is offering any Union member a job in the same state that they currently work in if their job is "surplused". I think that 100% of people wish they had any job security, let alone that kind. If anybody cares to read SBC's side of things, read www.sbcupdate.com . It will tell SBC's side of things. Now I'm off to frickin' Detroit to run phone lines for 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.. thanks Union.