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Occupy Atlanta, CWA 3204 Protest Hundreds of Looming AT&T Layoffs
Occupy Atlanta protesters joined Communications Workers of American members in calling for AT&T to stop its newest round of layoffs during a time of profit for the company. CWA Local 3204 claims that AT&T is about to cut 740 jobs. Many of those protesting have dealt with layoff rumors at the company before. According to CBS, the main demand of the protesters is to keep their current jobs:
Michael Dawson, a service representative, was laid off last year, but got another job with the company. Dawson said worrying about losing his job again is draining.
“I may be axed with no opportunity for a job,” Dawson said. “We’re scared because the company will flip a switch and decide ‘we no longer need you.’”
Kim Ball, a maintenance administrator, knows what it’s like to face the layoff guillotine. Ball has been part of a downsizing effort before. She doesn’t want to go through that again.
“AT&T is making enough money to keep people on the payroll. Stop the layoffs. We want them to stop the layoffs,” Ball said.
Joe Chandler, an AT&T spokesman, said the company has offered other jobs to almost all of the workers facing layoffs.
Walter Andrews, president of the communications workers of America Local 3204, along with other union members said the jobs the company is offering are substandard.
The video below depicts CWA and other union members explaining their grievance. Protesters have said they plan on staying in front of the AT&T building until their demands are met.
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