AT&T's job cuts to be offset with hires in Mobility unit

AT&T has announced plans to cut 1.5 percent of its workforce of 309,000. Sad times ahead for the company? Not quite. Apparently the 4600 jobs will be harvested from managerial spots in its flagging wired home phone business, so no worries, wireless types. Now here's where it gets interesting: word has it that AT&T also expects to hire back that same number of employees into the fold -- the wireless fold, that is -- keeping the total headcount nice and steady. We'd wager that we'll see more cuts like this in the coming months and years, so if you were pondering that job as a switchboard operator, time to retrain. So yeah, turns out it's business as usual for the number one carrier after all -- unless you happen to be in the 4600-strong group of obsoleted folks, that is.

[Via mocoNews]

[Flashpoint @ Apr 18th 2008 10:08PM]

AT&T sucks.

Once enough iphones get unlocked their users are plunging for certain.

[RC @ Apr 18th 2008 11:38PM]

Only if your parents hadn't kicked you down the stairs in your early years.........

[mushrooshi @ Apr 19th 2008 12:32AM]

Not really.

I know that some part of the market share has got to be spoiled teenage mall rats.

I know there was one at school, and she didn't even know what half of the things in there were...

Do you really expect America to know how to unlock phones?

[Wireless Joe @ Apr 18th 2008 10:23PM]

Actually, I'm a manager in Wireless, and I got my layoff notice on the 9th. So, not 100% true, that report.

[bjrcboy @ Apr 18th 2008 11:42PM]

Maybe you just suck?

[Abuzar @ Apr 19th 2008 12:08AM]

I feel sorry for you but maybe the poster above me is right. Maybe your performance just wasn't up to par.

I know what that feels like. That's why they kicked me out of Nsync. Good thing too, now people don't question my sexuality anymore.

[Mark @ Apr 18th 2008 10:47PM]

die at&t.

just die.

[LockOn @ Apr 18th 2008 11:22PM]

Nice, Mark. My brother is one of those getting the boot, you wanna feed his family or are you too busy worrying about whether or not you get some piddling iota of service that you think you're worth?

These are real people you're talking about. To the author, Mr. Cooper: I'm disappointed in your cavalierness about not caring because it's not wireless that's affected. Let's see you lose your job and then I'll minimize it.

[Dave @ Apr 18th 2008 11:29PM]

how is this cavalier? people get laid off every day, and just because Cooper doesn't have a bleeding heart for some middle-management in AT&T doesn't mean you need to say he's being cavalier. Perhaps if your brother was more effective he would be keeping his job? Of course, that NEVER comes into people's minds...

[Mark @ Apr 19th 2008 12:16AM]

life goes on.

why should anyone give a damn about your brother? we all have our own lives to worry about.

pick yourself up and find another job.

[webon @ Apr 19th 2008 12:58AM]

wow people on the interwebz can be rude, I'm betting this 2 too sensitive dudes above me would never say what the just stated here, outloud or in public.

Even if your brother was a lazy bum I feel sorry for him, It ain't fun having no job or dough to feed your offspring.

I too believe the Cooper was a bit over the line calling people obsolete, me thinks

[Truth_Bringer @ Apr 19th 2008 4:29AM]

"My brother is one of those getting the boot, you wanna feed his family or are you too busy worrying about whether or not you get some piddling iota of service that you think you're worth?"

Zzzzz........ Moron. Who told your "brother" to get a dead end job in a highly competetive industry?

I swear, its almost comical to hear that there are STILL those people out there that think getting a job means "easy street" after moving their fat ass into a cubicle, getting some crappy HMO health benefits, and thinking they have a "career" where if they stay around at a company long enough they'll somehow be rewarded with a gold watch at a retirement ceremony after 30 years.

Wake the F*CK up, dude.

[MARSHAK @ Apr 19th 2008 11:00AM]

@ truth

work for walmart. :D. profit sharing, a nice gold nametag and yes you DO get a retirement party. oh, be prepared to live in a shithole apartment tho. perfect for all you lonely people who just wanna scoot by in life.

[Eric @ Apr 19th 2008 9:38AM]

Ok, Bill the supervising technician gets laid off in a cost cutting move.

6 Months later he's hired back as a technical supervisor.

Does he get to keep his seniority, vacation, 401(k) vesting?

And what does this do for the short term P&L for the company?

Sound a little too much like a Wall St. style game to reorg and cut costs at the same time. I wonder what will happen when the rank and file employees (who are mostly unionized) get the same offer, knowing that the wireless business is largely a non-union shop.

[Dave @ Apr 19th 2008 10:14AM]

we live in a free market society, get over it

[Zaq @ Apr 19th 2008 11:43AM]

You know, people do not only get laid off only for poor performance. People do also get the boot for making too much money in a certain position.

[Rob Schoenfeld @ Apr 19th 2008 9:21PM]

You guys are supprised that ATT is laying poeple off. The made a deal with the devil (Steve Jobs). They agreed to give more money then they make to Apple. They actually love a couple hundred bucks for every Iphoney they sell. Sure they have 5 million new customers, but they lose money every month on the deal. Mean while Stevie laughs all the way to the bank. Plus they also lose all potential revenue from other services like ring tones, software apps, etc. Why do you think Verizon told Stevie to take a short jump off a high building..

[AlphaTeam @ Apr 20th 2008 2:09PM]

I have AT&T, and for me they work. I've had bad experience with Verizon and Sprint. T-Mobile is okay, but until they get 3G, I won't go near them.

In response to y'all who say AT&T sucks: Prove it!

[jared.anderson @ Apr 21st 2008 12:55PM]

The individuals laid off will be receiving nice severance packages not to mention all of the employees offered early retirement who will take the money and run. Its all about perspective, if you want to grow fat and lazy and not advance your career, then a layoff is a great motivator to wake up and get moving again. Here's your chance to start a new career with a wad of cash in your pocket.....hmmmm, where do I sign.