shadowfax
Premium
join:2007-01-06
Lexington, KY
| reply to Wildcat
Re: Windstream DSL Helpdesk Closing
This whole mess is indicative of how WS runs it's business, like Alltel before it, everything is micromanaged. From limiting the work supplies it offers to the techs(screws to drop wire), very limited overtime, to leasing properties, vehicles, shifting data entry work from state to state, now the India thing. Everything is geered to minimum expense and maximum prophit, buy hook or crook, to get the stock as high as possible as quickly as possible. I'd say that the only jobs that are safe right now within Ws are the craft jobs, they still cant move the poles to India yet. If they keep following the Alltel model, more small telco's willbe gobbled up, more layoffs with the consolidation, more prophit, higher stock, for a possible sellout. Look at Alltel wireless, just sold off for 27 billion. But old Shadow will stillbe out there on the front lines.  |
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Wildcat
@rr.com
| reply to Wildcat
BINGO. Shadowfax you're 100% correct. The powers that be at WS (and most other companies) don't care about their employees or their customers. The aim is to increase profit margins, get the stock up and then sell the company off making a big profit for the lucky few. If you are thinking about disrupting your life and moving to Ohio for a Tier 2 job please consider this before you do. |
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Piggie
I Actually use Windstream
Premium
join:2005-11-23
Orange Springs, FL
 ·HughesNet Satellit..
 ·Windstream
| said by Wildcat :
If you are thinking about disrupting your life and moving to Ohio for a Tier 2 job please consider this before you do.
Yeah, I said this one already. If I worked for WS and got canned out of one of the Call Centers, I would not be moving with them. Not without a huge moving compensation package, so basically it didn't cost me. Probably also only if I rented and was single and already not living in the place where I had family and friends support.
I would guess Twinsburg already has a secret termination date.
Like I told the last guy I worked for, "I am selling you my time for money, that is my company loyalty."
And I am old enough to remember a time in America that company loyalty was more than a business deal and was truly a two way street. Don't let them fool you anymore, those days are gone, unless you work somewhere unique.
--
| Speedstream 4200 Modem - 3m/384 plan | W98-W2KSP4-XPSP2 - All AMD | Buffalo WHR G54S with OpenWRT WR0.9 | 2 downstream switches feeding 5 total clients (no wireless) | Including the Data port on the side of my neck | |
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MyOhMy
@cox.net
| reply to Wildcat
I am one of the WS employees ... well ... for another 90 days anyway ...
I saw a few questions about links that give statements ... this is what I found:
»journalstar.com/articles/2007/09···6177.txt
and
»www.saljournal.com/Story/windstream
Of course there are other links out there in regards of the CT employees ...
I just kinda needed to put my 2coppers here ....
There is a Help Desk in Salina,KS and in Lincoln, NE that is effected by this layoff / outsource situation. Yet, only the local news paper comments on it. There is nothing about it on WS site, nothing that would inform the customer about changes to come!!! somewhere I've read that one of the reasons for the move was the lag of employment ... I don't believe filling the positions would be as much of a problem if it than would be a position filled by WS themselves rather than having Temp Agencies offer the job. Be it the pay or the benefits, the fact that it is a "temporary position" ... it makes all the difference if one decides to take a job or leave it. In the end, allot of folks say "I saw it coming" ... And now we all are temporary ... so to the ones of you out there that have WS services ... next time you call your Internet Help Desk ... don't forget ... our days are counted ... enjoy us while you can!!!
In the end its all about the money ...
I know I loved what I am doing, even tho it isn't always easy ... but a look in the future shows me that there is no more Tech Support via call center for me.
This is my second time being in a layoff do to my job being outsourced ... and I surely wont try for the third time being the charm .... kinda lost my hopes for that |
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JAF
@cox.net
1 edit |  Well You could always take the $5000 to move to Ohio and then before they outsource you again. you can decide that this job just isn't for you and quit. That would be sticking it to the man. |
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Piggie
I Actually use Windstream
Premium
join:2005-11-23
Orange Springs, FL
·HughesNet Satellit..
·Windstream
| Here is a thought to ponder. Many American companies turned to the Japanese 20 years ago or so to see how they did things efficiently. Obviously they missed the boat. Japan has already learned what outsourcing did to their economy and now has gone back to job loyalty with their employees. When Mazda almost went broke over their looses with the Wankel rotary engine, even the CEO took a massive pay cut, but no one was laid off. Result? Mazda with the loyal help of the company and their loyalty to the company pulled them out of the red ink and are still around today decades later.
While American auto companies buy more and more parts from over seas, Honda, Toyota build plants here such that now more of a Honda or Toyota is built with American labor than our own big 3 auto companies vehicles.
So in conclusion, American cooperations would be MUCH BETTER OFF to lay off the Top Management and hire Japanese Executives to run our companies.
And I bet that would create not only a better economy, and stock prices, but everyone would be happier.
We could give the American execs a huge severance pay but they all have to go to an island somewhere and live out their lives and leave us the heck alone!
Piggie :@)
--
| Speedstream 4200 Modem - 3m/384 plan | W98-W2KSP4-XPSP2 - All AMD | Buffalo WHR G54S with OpenWRT WR0.9 | 2 downstream switches feeding 5 total clients (no wireless) | Including the Data port on the side of my neck | |
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anonymous in ks
@swbell.net | reply to JAF
they offered you $5000 must be nice.....and everyone that keeps saying ask for second level, it ain't going to be that easy, first you'll go to wipro second level, then to wipro supervisor, then finally you might get someone in america. |
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sadoverit
@swbell.net | reply to Anonymousss
I would just like to say thank you to everyone and their kind words to us BSR or for you old schoolers ISR.
I think it hurts to say good bye to the great customers and coworkers.
To a new year and new job!
thanks again |
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krisguy
join:2007-08-24
Lincoln, NE
| reply to Fulltimerep
said by Fulltimerep :
... I just hope it works well enough that you won't have to call tech support after 12/7. But if you do, just ask for Tier II.
Also remember, Tier 2 will no longer be the Tech Specs that have done all the hard work and know the network very well, they will be new people starting over again.
I'm glad I got on with AT&T before all this mess happened. |
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Piggie
I Actually use Windstream
Premium
join:2005-11-23
Orange Springs, FL
·HughesNet Satellit..
·Windstream
| Here on BBR we represent a tiny tiny tiny fraction of a fraction of a fraction of percent.
But it still won't hurt to tell Windstream their decision was terrible (read that sucks canal water into posterior orifice).
I doubt most neighbors will do it but encourage them to complain about the CS.
Thanks to all the WS CSRs that have answered my calls.
--
| Speedstream 4200 Modem - 3m/384 plan | W98-W2KSP4-XPSP2 - All AMD | Buffalo WHR G54S with OpenWRT WR0.9 | 2 downstream switches feeding 5 total clients (no wireless) | Including the Data port on the side of my neck | |
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AnonymousOne3
Former Broadband Rep
join:2007-08-04
Salina, KS
| reply to Wildcat
Well, my final 2 cents on this subject...
Its all about money, its not that wipro "out performed" us. The main reason I know its a money thing is that there are supposedly going to be 400-500 + of them. So if at best there are/were 200 here in US and everyone knows outsourced techs get peanuts for pay. Im sure most of you all are pretty smart folk...do the math. Its cheaper labor that Windstream will not have to pay benefits or anything for so they can hire more of them to do less than what we do here.
In my best Forrest Gump impression...
"Thats all I have to say about that."
--
Maybe if I work on my "accent"...I can keep a job! |
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Call Center Temp
@rr.com
| reply to Wildcat
I just wanted to make an update on how the last 50 some odd days are going in the call center. Some of us temps have been given the okay to stay past Sept 28th, I called my temp agency with some questions and they haven't gotten back to me yet. Sept 28th is 5 days away for those of you who don't know. Basically I think we will just work for however many weeks and then one day we will get a call saying that we are no longer needed and that will be that. That is all alright since a paycheck is still a paycheck and the job hunt is going very well and will most likely get better with time.
What is most interesting about these last days is as the WiPro call center gets a larger and larger staff there are more repeat calls where they have first spoken to an Indian and then to me - a Midwestern American with excellent communication skills. I have people always saying that they could not understand the previous rep and they just had to hang up and call back. The first thing I ask is if the rep was eating while on the phone or mumbling and then deem that as unacceptable. The customer usually at that point says that the rep was probably from India and then I say "Oh..." and try to give it a very long pause to see what the customer will say. They don't usually say too much. I did have one customer say that it was too bad we didn't have Americans who were smart enough to do these jobs, I told her that I really didn't think that was the case, that it probably had something to do with money. She probably really believes that outsourcing is based on brains and not the buck. Some people!
-- STOP SELLING AMERICA!!! |
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shadowfax
Premium
join:2007-01-06
Lexington, KY | reply to Wildcat
Good luck on youre job search, and keep us posted on what you will be doing.....SUPERTECH OUT!!! |
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GomerPyle3
join:2007-06-09
1 edit | reply to krisguy
Really, peeps again if your going to post stuff post the facts or not at all.
FACT
what was offered for comp/ relocation /bonus to move etc was different per person based on experience and their current levels.
FACT
more then a few people are going to ohio so there will be at least a small amount of current 2nd level and medium amount of current american 1st level that will have knowledge of what really needs to be done.
OPINION
i doubt they will close the 2nd level in twinsburg ever Just like Dell and gateway always have maintained 2nd level I am sure ws will also. depending on demand it may be downsized but there will be someone there when WS realizes its big mistake and brings them back or sells the company and they bring it back.
if you have a problem getting a 2nd level american just do what i did on phone to other outsourced company last week.
nicely apologized that there seemed to be a language barrier and could please get me someone in 2nd level who spoke english better. Response was" ill get ya to next tech" my response before he could hit the button "NO you will get me to an american based second level support thank you".
then the 2nd level gets on and starts saying that previous tech said i wanted such and such which was totally wrong. Told him "Point made language barrier"
oh this is just a rumor i heard thru grapevine NOT AT WS not sure where tho Heck could have been here LOL
if their techs calls last over 10 min they do not get paid for the call.
hope my line dont go down pheww would be a pain to troubleshoot for 11 min with 1st level and then HAVE to ask for 2nd level support at that point. of course maybe ill get some one in level 1 who knows something about dsl and not just technology in a 3rd world country
and in short. just gotta share my daily laugh when i see windstream poster that says
Windstream bringing it home for customer/employees/ stock holders..... I guess that doesnt include tech support ROFLMAO |
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mojo1
join:2006-12-05
Jefferson, GA | I guess all of my calls will be 10 min + when I get someone from overseas. Just trying to do my part to save WS some $$$. I have a terrible time with accents... |
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GomerPyle3
join:2007-06-09 | not saving windstream any money or dell or hp or etc.
Overseas companies work on contracts kind of like Temp agencies and they decide how to pay their employees |
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Aquaman
@sbcglobal.net
| reply to Wildcat
Yes this is all true! Level 2 Support will be in Ohio and they have offered positions to some so they can move - but reality is all level 1 positions are moving to India. We are not allowed to tell the customers that though. We received a letter via snail mail saying that WI PRO was involved. And an email was sent out but it was quietly removed from the email server, I know because 2 supervisors looked for it before I did. I understand the business sense, but on a moral level this stinks. it also does not take into account the 100+ temp employees we have who were trying to get hired on. |
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Piggie
I Actually use Windstream
Premium
join:2005-11-23
Orange Springs, FL |
Well interestingly enough I bumped into a like minded person on cafepress. No it's not my set up. I didn't put it there, but it's there.
www.cafepress/stopselling |
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wireman9
join:2004-03-17
Smithland, KY
| reply to Wildcat
The only tech help I get from them are people who can hardly speak English. (They always give American names, like Sara, Mary, Sue etc. I was helping a neighbor who has a new connection this morning, and the tech said they would do something from that end and we would have service by Thursday, October 26th! The 26th comes on Friday of this year. I wonder which year she was referring to?
You go through menu hell when you call them, after getting someone they read from a prepared form, having you unplug the modem, etc. It's all the same thing every time. I had to go through the routine 4 times this morning. You can't get an answer from them, they have to put you on hold and ask their supervisor.
Outsourcing is causing a decline in the standard of living in this country. |
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Piggie
I Actually use Windstream
Premium
join:2005-11-23
Orange Springs, FL | I can't reply to that as it is OT. |
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