Sharon

Sharon, 49, worked 27 years as a long distance operator for AT&T operator until she was laid off, along with 100 of her co-workers, on Sept. 21, 2003. Sharon is now an on-call AT&T employee for a facility that’s 35 miles away from her home, which allows her to continue to receive health care. Since losing her job, Sharon has been organizing and leading support groups for her previous co-workers to help one another deal with the ramifications of job loss.

My Story
I worked as an AT&T operator for over 27 years, when AT&T closed the office in West Virginia. Due to overseas outsourcing this has left over 100 people without a job. With CWA’s help and negotiations, I remain in a job skills match status being on-call for any job that might open up within 35 miles. This allows me to reach retirement medical benefits with a penalty in my retirement pay.

The closing of our office and loss of other jobs in West Virginia has made it a very stressful time. I am helping with retraining and have been a peer support to co-workers to handle a multitude of problems. Most have yet to find any work, and I worry about them giving up the struggle. They have had times where they can’t provide for even the simply medications needed to maintain their families health.

After looking for a job since September, I find there are not any employers hiring that offers anything close to the benefits I had in the past. Through the CWA/ATT Alliance training I am working to ensure I am employable and make myself as marketable as possible.

The off-shoring of jobs has impacted many types of industries and especially the telecommunications industry. Something has to change or I fear the politicians will lead the United States into a path of no jobs being available to support our economy in a couple of years.