AT&T Premises Technician Pay?...

[DoomedOPT]

atl prem tech, I am actually in the area that you are talking about. I work both areas but am an OPT, not a Prem Tech. They just hired PT's here last week. Don't know what the conditions are for them except for the fact that they are staying busy. To answer your question, I don't think there is a better place in the United States to live than here, as I moved here from another state and can truly appreciate it. Very clean, beautiful mountains and safe. Why does this site say that I live in West Virginia? How do I change that? I never said that I lived there!!!!!!

[KC Future PT]

xxx wrote:

<quoted text>
I guess they want to keep the job they got. Hard to organize a strike without union backing.

Get ahold of the IBEW and see if they can't help you out. I think I may just turn AT&T down. If they didn;lt get a pay raise, its easy to make the kind of money they are offering anywhere! The $9-13.03 an hour is a joke compared to the $17.50 an hour being offered to be a machine operator at the local food plant! Its a union job with great benefits. I want to get into home automation or smart homes and wanted to use AT&T for the experience, but I think that AT&T may eat me up and burn out my interest in the field.

[DoomedOPT]

PremTechNoMore,
I am currently an OPT hired for a 2 yr term doing lightspeed work as well. We have now been working for a year and 7 months and last week they brought in a crew of Prem Techs and they are working
wide open already. Here's what I want to know: How many people were in your lightspeed crew? Did they cut some and keep some on for a while longer? We have maybe 12 or so guys in our crew and although our manager says there is tons of work left to do I'm just not buying them keeping us around much longer. Not to discourage anyone else here, but I am NOT going to take a Prem Tech job even if it is offered to me. I just would like to know how much longer we have before we get the axe. Was there still a lot of work left to do when you got laid off? How many people were left after you were sent home? They were pushing us hard giving us lots of overtime up until the deadline last week that we were supposed to have a certain number of DA's completed. Now overtime is gone.

[maddogg220]

DoomedOPT wrote:

PremTechNoMore,
I am currently an OPT hired for a 2 yr term doing lightspeed work as well. We have now been working for a year and 7 months and last week they brought in a crew of Prem Techs and they are working
wide open already. Here's what I want to know: How many people were in your lightspeed crew? Did they cut some and keep some on for a while longer? We have maybe 12 or so guys in our crew and although our manager says there is tons of work left to do I'm just not buying them keeping us around much longer. Not to discourage anyone else here, but I am NOT going to take a Prem Tech job even if it is offered to me. I just would like to know how much longer we have before we get the axe. Was there still a lot of work left to do when you got laid off? How many people were left after you were sent home? They were pushing us hard giving us lots of overtime up until the deadline last week that we were supposed to have a certain number of DA's completed. Now overtime is gone.

In my area all but 2 opt's were laid off about 6 months after pt's started installations. About 6 months later they came back as pt's if they wanted. I believe they kept 2 opt's around for the "first mile" project. I would imagine after the majority of the work is over they could just as easily use rft I&R techs to do your job where needed. Better start looking for meaningful employment elsewhere NOW.

[pairchanger]

DoomedOPT wrote:

PremTechNoMore,
I am currently an OPT hired for a 2 yr term doing lightspeed work as well. We have now been working for a year and 7 months and last week they brought in a crew of Prem Techs and they are working
wide open already. Here's what I want to know: How many people were in your lightspeed crew? Did they cut some and keep some on for a while longer? We have maybe 12 or so guys in our crew and although our manager says there is tons of work left to do I'm just not buying them keeping us around much longer. Not to discourage anyone else here, but I am NOT going to take a Prem Tech job even if it is offered to me. I just would like to know how much longer we have before we get the axe. Was there still a lot of work left to do when you got laid off? How many people were left after you were sent home? They were pushing us hard giving us lots of overtime up until the deadline last week that we were supposed to have a certain number of DA's completed. Now overtime is gone.

December 15 is a "majic" layoff date in this company. Hope you see the sixteenth. Here they hired a bunch of lightspeed guys and then let them go soon. Some of them had just gotten their uniforms like the week before. That was a 7-08 they haven't hired anymore here since. And I hear that they're letting the very few that got to stay on the 15th of Dec. Good luck.

[DoomedOPT]

maddogg220 wrote:

<quoted text>
In my area all but 2 opt's were laid off about 6 months after pt's started installations. About 6 months later they came back as pt's if they wanted. I believe they kept 2 opt's around for the "first mile" project. I would imagine after the majority of the work is over they could just as easily use rft I&R techs to do your job where needed. Better start looking for meaningful employment elsewhere NOW.

Thanks for your input. What is the first mile project? I don't do the plant conditioning anymore, I do the TI/ATI testing at the cross boxes after conditioning is done. Our 1st level mgr. claims that there is tons of work left to do but I don't believe anything they say. The rumor is that F2 conditioning is about to be started in neighboring cities and that we will probably get transferred to work out of a different garage and get another term. I don't know if I believe this. I think they would rather hire a new crew at bottom pay and let us go instead of keeping us on. I don't care what people say about us already having experience being the reason why they would keep us on. The way I see it, this lightspeed project is being done according to a particular budget and the way they do things never seems to make sense. I don't know if I even would accept another term anyway. It would only make me that much older looking for a real job when they get finished with us. This company is ruthless. A friend of mine that had 12 years with the company in outside sales making 70k+ per year and gave the company her total life was canned Friday for no good reason other than it was time to downsize.

[KC Future PT]

Why don't people join together and start a small telphone, cable, and internet company. Charge decent prices pay each other a decent pay and provide the best service possible. DO everything different than the current media ccompanies do and get onto the best places to work list and all the other awards and build up and put AT&T out of business???

People are getting tired of hearing all the high profits a company is making yet they countinue to lay people off, cut pay, cut benefits thus just increassing benefits.

Its time to start our own business that see people as the NUMBER ONE ASSET! Not the BIGGEST LIABILITY!

Co-op could over throw big business and thats what people need to do. These companines saying that they are to big to fail, need to fail and many smaller companies can take its place. Smaller companies have to pay more to attract top talent and then keep giving them a good salary and benfits to keep them from leaving.

Big Business has destroyed America big it took the power from the people and gave it to the few.

Take back America by patronizing the small business, go down to the Ma/Pa store that is on the corner, drive past the AMC's, Walmart's, Target's. Forget about big business they don't care who you are or what they do to you!

[cheetoe8]

I applied for the PT position here in Atlanta back in august and it took till just last week for me to hear anything they scheduled a meeting to learn about the job and told me that i need to fill out a longer application with background check well did all that then i received an e-mail stating that the meeting had been canceled till further notice.
later that day i received a phone call to take my drug test the next day and was told there are no openings as of yet but the drug test and background check were good for 90 days.
if there is not going to be any openings then why are they having me jump through all the hoops and also why have i not been interviewed yet? i have completed everything drug test, physical, common sense test,and background test but no interview.

[xxx]

cheetoe8 wrote:

I applied for the PT position here in Atlanta back in august and it took till just last week for me to hear anything they scheduled a meeting to learn about the job

Been 3 weeks since my interview and physical. Still no word. Must be a hiring freeze at the moment. I guess things could change any day. Don't hold your breath however. Keep looking for other jobs.

[deadlysnakeact]

xxx wrote:

<quoted text>
Been 3 weeks since my interview and physical. Still no word. Must be a hiring freeze at the moment. I guess things could change any day. Don't hold your breath however. Keep looking for other jobs.

the process took me a few months to complete, but now i am scheduled to start at the end of the week. so hang in there. i have been trying to find out about a training schedule and location: anyone have an idea of how long the premises tech. training lasts and if they usually send you out of town to do it ( i am already in a large city/market area, so i am hopeful that i wont have to travel to another city for extended training). any advice about the training schedule from the posters would be greatly appreciated.

[Preemy]

deadlysnakeact wrote:

<quoted text>
the process took me a few months to complete,

You Most probably will train in Alahambra, They also train in Scaramento, nost less likely the later, They will pay your travel time, meal allowance & mileage, the travel will be ot, traing is 5 days a week 40 hours, you will spend a week in class the travel bacl for a ride along week with another tech, then back training for another week, then back for more on the job, then a final week to complete then you will be back at the garage, training being monday-Friday you will travel Sunday eve (OT) and Travel Home (Fri) After Training for 8 hours (OT), Training May vary now since I did it, But basically thats what the program is. Good Luck

[deadlysnakeact]

Preemy wrote:

<quoted text>You Most probably will train in Alahambra, They also train in Scaramento, nost less likely the later, They will pay your travel time, meal allowance & mileage, the travel will be ot, traing is 5 days a week 40 hours, you will spend a week in class the travel bacl for a ride along week with another tech, then back training for another week, then back for more on the job, then a final week to complete then you will be back at the garage, training being monday-Friday you will travel Sunday eve (OT) and Travel Home (Fri) After Training for 8 hours (OT), Training May vary now since I did it, But basically thats what the program is. Good Luck

Right neighborly of you Sir. Thanks for the information.

[PremTechNoMore]

DoomedOPT wrote:

PremTechNoMore,
I am currently an OPT hired for a 2 yr term doing lightspeed work as well. We have now been working for a year and 7 months and last week they brought in a crew of Prem Techs and they are working
wide open already. Here's what I want to know: How many people were in your lightspeed crew? Did they cut some and keep some on for a while longer? We have maybe 12 or so guys in our crew and although our manager says there is tons of work left to do I'm just not buying them keeping us around much longer. Not to discourage anyone else here, but I am NOT going to take a Prem Tech job even if it is offered to me. I just would like to know how much longer we have before we get the axe. Was there still a lot of work left to do when you got laid off? How many people were left after you were sent home? They were pushing us hard giving us lots of overtime up until the deadline last week that we were supposed to have a certain number of DA's completed. Now overtime is gone.

DoomedOPT,
I have no way to answer this for you. My boss on that crew was a great guy but we could tell he was careful about the information he gave us. If he could forewarn us of any impending doom ahead of time it was only revealed with minimum risk and wasn't always correct information. Since my last long post on this forum I have relocated to Charlotte and started a new life so I have not been on this forum for awhile. It seems as if things are getting worse - at least to me. My only option was to move to PremTech, which I bravely moved on to. Most of the guys in my old crew would not even take that option - all were offered it. They heard all of the rumors circulating about PremTechs. I only know of three guys that considered it - one I spoke to turned it down and the other two I have not spoken to recently but were almost through training. The point wasn't whether or not a lot of work was left because anyone could move into your position and bump you out if your seniority date was too recent and due to an overflow or other type of movement. On the OPT side it was all about seniority/start date.Best thing to do if you want to play it smart? Start taking a hard look at your contingency plan and be prepared for the worst - and I mean that. On a side note: I'm glad to see Holysmokes JAX is still here - you are the best and you care about these guys. I also noticed there is still some crack addicts interjecting their special brand of bullshit into this legitimate forum and they need to take their insensitive ignorant comments and go back to selling Mon Ami'for a living.

[ATT FOOL ATL]

I NHAVE WORKED FOR THE MA WHEN SHE CARED AND IN THE LAST TWO YEARS AS IT IS NOW. I HOPE AND PRAY THAT IT WILL REVERT BACK TO THE OLD WAYS OR YOU YOUNG GUYS CAN JOIN AS A GROUP AND GET IT THERE. AS FOR ME IT'S A JOKE. I HIRED ON IN 72 AND HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH AN INSULT ON A PERSONS RIGHT TO WORK WITH HOPE OF A FUTURE WITH A CORP. THAT WITH IT'S EMPLOYEES AND DEDICATITION THAT THIS WOULD BE A JOB THAT ANYONE WOULD BE PROUD TO HAVE AND THE REST OF THE WORLD WOULD STRIVE FOR. HANG IN THERE THE PRODUCT MAY PULL YOU THRU. NUMBERS MEAN SHIT ONLY TO THE M.S.'S AND OTHER FOOLS THAT DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT YPU ARE OUR CUST.. DO YOU'RE JOBS AND TRY TO KEEP YOUR CUST. HAPPY THE 2ND LEVEL WILL FADE. THIS COULD BE MY LAST POST AS AN EMPLOYEE BUT IT'S BEEN FUN TALK TO YOU'RE UNION GUYS CAT5

[xxx]

Future_PremTech wrote:

Just heard from the staffing mngr I have been in contact with that there is a hiring freeze until at least January.

Got a similar call today. No hiring til Jan. Background check and drug test results good for 90 days. At least someone called me.

Maybe someone on here knows of other companies hiring? Please let us know. Thanks.

[Pairchanger]

The writings on the wall guys. I would like to think that I could retire from this company. It'll never happen. Technologys a bitch. Look how technology has changed in the last 5-10 years, hell the last 2 years. Everythings wireless now, 3G etc. It's crazy but really is true. We have no idea what's to come. I hate to say this but it's true.

[Holysmokes - Jax PT]

PremTechNoMore wrote:

<quoted text>Start taking a hard look at your contingency plan and be prepared for the worst - and I mean that. On a side note: I'm glad to see Holysmokes JAX is still here - you are the best and you care about these guys.

Thanks for the compliment.

It is good to see that you moved on and got a job.

Sorry you had to move to another town to do it.

Good luck.

[Holysmokes - Jax PT]

cheetoe8 wrote:

I have completed everything drug test, physical, common sense test,and background test but no interview.

Be patient.

You are almost there.

A new union contract is coming.

Pressure is building on both the company, and the union.

[Holysmokes - Jax PT]

deadlysnakeact wrote:

<quoted text>
now i am scheduled to start at the end of the week.... anyone have an idea of how long the premises tech training lasts ?....

Training is 8 hour days.

There are some pass/fail tests.

I posted each week of my training class on the board as follows:

week 1 - page 44
week 2 = page 46
week 3 = page 48
week 4 = page 50

But that was a year ago, and here in Jax.

We didn't have VOIP then, and your class may be different.

I am told that new classes reverse week 2 & 3 from what I went thru.

They may be similar, you might read my notes. They will give you a good idea of what to expect.

[KC Future PT]

We need Union leaders that stand up for the working man and woman, not cowards that are itimadated or paidoff by big business.

Until the working people stand together and fight back againist big business and Union Cowards, it will be the same old same old. Wage freezes, cuts, benefit cuts, and unnecassary layoffs just to see profit rise higher and Management get big bonuses.