June 16, 2020

AT&T announced today they intend to slash 176 Customer Systems Technician (CST) jobs in Illinois and Northwest Indiana affecting employees represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 21 (IBEW 21).  The job losses are due to the continual evolution of AT&T’s business model.

Representatives from the IBEW and AT&T have been in talks for weeks regarding the impact of the cuts and how to lower the number of employees who could be forced to involuntarily leave the company.  As we layout some of the details we must remind all members that this situation is fluid and things can change as the process of saving as many positions as possible continues.

The first phase is the announcement of an enhanced voluntary separation package which is being offered to eligible IBEW employees in Title Groups 2 which includes AFO, Business Services and Construction. 

A limited number of Central Office and Power Technicians in Title Group 1 will be offered the Enhanced General SIPP.  The hope is that if there are not enough SIPP takers in Group 2 employees in Title Group 1 would be able to offset a potential Title Group 2 surplus.   

AT&T and the IBEW have agreed to the one-time increase in the SIPP amount as an incentive to allow employees who have been considering leaving the company to retiree and save the position of other employees who are not ready to leave their employment with AT&T.

The SIPP amount will be $80,500 that is an increase of $50,000.  The new amount is almost one year’s salary. 

All Voluntary SIPP applications must be received by noon on June 30, 2020.

Those employees who volunteer to accept the SIPP offer and are within a department, work location, and title where targeted workforce reductions exists will be accepted first, up to the number of planned reductions.

The estimated off payroll date is Friday, July 17, 2020 for those who are accepted for the Voluntary SIPP.

AFO CST’s interested in potentially moving to a Telecommunication Specialist (CO Tech) position may have an opportunity to take the TKT II test.  The number of test takers will be limited by seniority and by locations that are overhead count. 

Your decision to take the TKT II test must be requested no later than 10:00 AM CT on Wednesday, June 17, 2020. 

After the number of SIPP takers and their locations are determined force preferences and force adjustments will take place.  If headcount reductions are not reached employees, within the locations, titles, and departments where the targeted workforce reduction conditions have not been satisfied, will be canvassed so they can be matched to SIPP Volunteers in other work groups.

We realize members have questions and concerns, and that rumors may circulate. Your managers should not try to interpret the contractual language or how this process will work.  If you have questions contact your IBEW Local 21 Union Representative.  The IBEW 21 staff is available and will help you during this difficult process. Our staff directory can be found here.

Additional IBEW Local Union 21 updates will be released as necessary. We will only report on verified factual information.

The announced targeted workforce reductions affecting IBEW Local 21 Customer Systems Technician positions in Illinois and Northwest Indiana are as follows: