RALEIGH – Workers at AT&T and its chain of retail stores face the prospect of being laid off, a union warns, citing information provided by the communications giant.

“AT&T has informed the Communications Workers of America of its plans to cut over 3,400 technician and clerical jobs across the country over the next few weeks,” the Communication Works reported in a blog post Tuesday.

“In addition, the company plans to permanently shutter over 250 AT&T Mobility and Cricket Wireless stores, impacting 1,300 retail jobs.”

AT&T confirmed cuts were coming.

“These actions align with our focus on growth areas along with lower customer demand for some legacy products and the economic impact and changed customer behaviors resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Jim Greer, assistant vice president for Corporate Communications, said in an email to WRAL TechWire.

“As a result, there will be targeted, but sizable reductions in our workforce across executives, managers and union-represented employees, consistent with our previously announced transformation initiative.

“Additionally, we’ll be eliminating more non-payroll workers — the vast majority of which are outside the United States – than we are managers or union-represented employees.”

The company added tha ffected workers will receive severance and healthcare coverage.

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“Reducing our workforce is a difficult decision that we don’t take lightly,” Greeg explained.

“For employees who are leaving as part of these changes, we’re offering severance pay and company-provided healthcare coverage for up to 6 months for eligible employees.”

The communications conglomerate had 212,827 workers as of March 31, down 41,000 from Dec. 31, 2017, the union says, citing AT&T filings.

AT&T, which operates some 5,000 retail stores, said closings reflect changes in shopping trends and the virus.

“With more customers shopping online, we are closing some retail stores to reflect our customers’ shopping practices. While these plans are not new, they have been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Greer wrote.

“Most of these employees will receive a guaranteed offer of another position with the company. Of those, only those who don’t qualify, volunteer to leave or decline a job offer will leave the company and will receive severance pay.”

Workers speaking out

Workers have been talking about cuts across the South in old “Bell South” territory as well as in the Midwest at TheLayoff.com.

“The old bellsouth 9 states are going to loose between 700-900 people in the 4th quarter,” one post reads.

“The buy out being offered now will be offered to a wider group if not enough people take it before the 4th qtr. The final number depends on a dollar amount saved.”

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Union President Chris Shelton, citing comments made recently by AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson, asked in the blog:

AT&T photo

Randall Stephenson. (AT&T photo)

“If we are in a war to keep our economy going during this crisis, why is AT&T dismissing the troops?

“CWA and AT&T have been working together to protect worker and customer health and safety and to provide premium pay for essential workers. The company showed an interest in investing in its workers and its network by cancelling planned stock buybacks. AT&T could help lead the country toward recovery by partnering with its workforce to build next generation networks. Instead the company is adding to the pain of the recession already underway.”

The company disclosed in April losses topping $400 million for the first quarter of 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic wrecked the US economy.

At that time, Stephenson warned “We’re sizing our operations to reflect the new economic activity level. And we’re leaning into our cost and efficiency initiatives.”

AT&T faced and settled recent disputes with its union members in North Carolina last summer.

The union also said the company has cut thousands of jobs despite pleding to add jobs in 2018 after federal tax cuts.