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Workers, Shareholders Pay the Price for AT&T's Bad Business Decisions: Statement by Ralph Maly, CWA
AT&T just can't seem to get its act together. Its latest announcement that it is cutting more jobs is another in a long line of bad business decisions.
At a time when keeping communications on-line and fully operational should be every company's top priority, AT&T continues to make bad business decisions that can only hurt the confidence that customers, shareholders and workers need to have in the company.
Our government, business and personal communications need to continue to operate without a hitch. AT&T's downsizing that will affect the operation and reliability of the network is exactly the wrong move for AT&T at this time.
AT&T's real value is not in equipment and customer lists, but in the employees who can keep that equipment working and customers satisfied. Unfortunately, AT&T, which had been praising employees for their round-the-clock commitment to restoring communications damaged by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, now is rewarding those workers with layoff notices.
Over the past several years, AT&T's bad business decisions have cost employees and shareholders dearly. It has cost all of us in customer confidence as well. AT&T's pattern of bad decision-making dates back to its 1991 acquisition of NCR Corp. There are more recent examples as well:
Over the past two years, AT&T spent $110 billion buying cable, wireless and local service companies to transform itself into an "all service provider." But the company never implemented the full integration and bundled services that customers wanted. This year, AT&T decided to abandon this strategy and break up the company – splitting apart wireless, cable, business and consumer operations. No wonder customers are confused.
AT&T overpaid substantially for TCI and Media One, saddling the company and shareholders overall with nearly $60 billion in debt.
AT&T needs to convince customers, shareholders and workers that the days of bad decision-making are behind it, and that the company is up to the job of providing and maintaining state-of-the-art telecommunications. That's what workers are looking for from AT&T.
At a time when keeping communications on-line and fully operational should be every company's top priority, AT&T continues to make bad business decisions that can only hurt the confidence that customers, shareholders and workers need to have in the company.
Our government, business and personal communications need to continue to operate without a hitch. AT&T's downsizing that will affect the operation and reliability of the network is exactly the wrong move for AT&T at this time.
AT&T's real value is not in equipment and customer lists, but in the employees who can keep that equipment working and customers satisfied. Unfortunately, AT&T, which had been praising employees for their round-the-clock commitment to restoring communications damaged by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, now is rewarding those workers with layoff notices.
Over the past several years, AT&T's bad business decisions have cost employees and shareholders dearly. It has cost all of us in customer confidence as well. AT&T's pattern of bad decision-making dates back to its 1991 acquisition of NCR Corp. There are more recent examples as well:
Over the past two years, AT&T spent $110 billion buying cable, wireless and local service companies to transform itself into an "all service provider." But the company never implemented the full integration and bundled services that customers wanted. This year, AT&T decided to abandon this strategy and break up the company – splitting apart wireless, cable, business and consumer operations. No wonder customers are confused.
AT&T overpaid substantially for TCI and Media One, saddling the company and shareholders overall with nearly $60 billion in debt.
AT&T needs to convince customers, shareholders and workers that the days of bad decision-making are behind it, and that the company is up to the job of providing and maintaining state-of-the-art telecommunications. That's what workers are looking for from AT&T.