September 15, 2015

Today, AT&T announced surpluses in many organizations throughout Illinois, Northwest Indiana and Michigan. Most of the job cuts will affect employees represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 21 (IBEW 21) as well as other employees from Locals 134 and 58.

The announced layoffs affecting IBEW members are as follows:

Customer Account Specialists – 66 (45 English, 21 Bilingual)

Technical Associate - 2

Technical Specialist - 3

Technical Specialist- Global - 1

Engineering Assistants - 46

Supply Attendant - Global - 1

Global Services/Datacom 14 – Local 21 (3), Local 134 (7), Local 58 (4)

Most of the employees affected by the AT&T announcement met with management on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 to review their SIPP packages and related surplus information.

Article 30 of the 2013 IBEW Collective Bargaining Agreement with AT&T governs most AT&T surplus declarations. The layoff procedure for Global Service “Datacom” employees is found in the Appendixes of the 2013 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

View the 2013 Collective Bargaining agreement now by clicking here.

National Credit Verification Center- Chicago

Within the Finance Department at AT&T, management informed IBEW 21 Leadership they intend to close the National Credit Verification Center (NCVC) office in Chicago. This closure will affect 66 employees in the Customer Account Specialist title (45 English/21 Bilingual), 2 Technical Associates, and 3 Technical Specialists.

Construction and Engineering

In the Construction and Engineering Department 46 Engineering Assistants jobs will be cut.This will affect 8 employees working at 225 W. Randolph in Chicago, 22 in Des Plaines, 12 in Elgin, 1 in Joliet, 2 in Springfield and 1 in Peoria.

Global Supply Chain

The Global Supply Chain organization is cutting 2 positions, 1 Supply Attendant in Joliet and 1 Technical Specialist at 225 W. Randolph in Chicago.

Global Services - Datacom

The Global Services Department announced the surplus of 14 employees. This will affect 3 IBEW Local 21 members, 7 IBEW Local 134 members and 4 members from IBEW Local 58 in Michigan.

We remind our membership that things can change daily. We now must allow the process to play itself out.

We realize 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.