November 16, 2012 – Today AT&T announced to their employees represented by IBEW Local Union 21 that 169 jobs will be cut, mostly in Illinois.  The company plans to move some of its call center work out of the State and cut jobs in numerous other locations throughout Illinois and in two locations in Northwest Indiana.

In Chicago Heights, management informed eighty-nine (89) Customer Account Specialists and five (5) Technical Associates their positions have been declared surplus. The work performed in the Chicago Heights call center is being moved to Nashville, Tennessee and Huntsville, Alabama.

In Chicago, eleven (11) Customer Advocates working in AT&T’s Customer Care Center at 225 W. Randolph will lose their jobs and at the company’s 311 W. Washington SAG group four (4) Telecommunications Specialists, two (2) Customer Account Specialists and one (1) Marketing Support Specialist have been declared surplus.

Fifty-seven (57) employees working in AT&T’s Central Offices were told their jobs have been declared surplus.  Fifty-five (55) of those eliminated positions are in Illinois and two (2) are employees working in Northwest Indiana. 

Management stated the forced distribution date for the employees affected by the surplus declaration will be February 13, 2013.  Article 30 of our collective bargaining agreement governs all AT&T surplus declarations.  View the agreement now by clicking here.

Your union leadership has already been in talks with AT&T management.  They understand the strains AT&T has placed on its employee’s right before the holidays and are doing everything they can to minimize the impact AT&T’s decision will have on our hardworking members and their families. 

As with all of the surpluses AT&T has declared we must remind our membership that things can change daily.  We must let the process play itself out.  We realize many members have questions, concerns and that rumors may start to fly.  Union updates will be released as necessary.  We will only report on verified factual information. 

We are disappointed by the decision of AT&T executives who decided it is more important to chase record profits instead of taking care of those who faithfully performed their duties for their employer. As we prepare for 2013 bargaining with AT&T we expect the company to further their attacks on their employees and retirees; to turn the tide we all must fight together as one unified force.