At phone giants, jobs may not last a lifetime

Telephone companies are moving from vast, costly networks to new, cheaper technologies requiring fewer workers.
The New York Times

The story "At phone giants, jobs may not last a lifetime" published December 5, 2005 at 6:10 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

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[Earl Benser]

The handwriting was on the wall....

.... the day the first dial exchange was brought on line. Up until
then, the telephone companies were labor dependent, with a
business model whose labor needs were outstripping the
possible supply. Automation was the only answer.

And it still is the only answer, and the telcos begin to convert to
total automation. The only actual people involved will be the
computer technicians, local managers, and outsourced customer
'service' personnel, whereever they may be.

It had to happen. And AT&T and the Baby Bells had to die in the
process. Now AT&T is just a ghost shell inhabited by SBC since
the SBC name is essentially worthless in the market. And the
local telsos are invisible entities who play the bottom line for
profit - and screw the customer as needed to make their profit
goals.

It sure wasn't the way the old timers wanted AT&T to go. Once,
AT&T was an honorable business name, with dedicated workers
and satisfied customers. That was then, and, unfortunately, this
is now.