Gone with the Windstream
In a year filled with many pieces of good employment news for Lincoln, Windstream has decided to drop 100 positions in Lincoln. The broadband customer support positions, which averaged $15 per hour, will move to Ohio and India. Another piece of the former Lincoln Telephone chips away…
The Comments
Former lt&t Employee September 6, 2007 at 8:31am
I can only imagine the Woods family turning over in their graves. Alltel came in, took our technology back decades just so it would match what they currently had. Next they took family; many of us had sons, daughters, parents, brothers, sisters and cousins working with us. Put them out on the streets. What’s next? Closing the entire operation. Glad I retired when I did!
Fletch September 6, 2007 at 9:13am
The sale to Alltel was the first of several bad events. But who decided to sell? Alltel, or Alliant/LT&T;? And customers are partly to blame - think of how many people no longer keep landlines or need the DSL broadband. You can’t keep losing customers and keep all the employees. LT&T;had probably close to 100% market share two decades ago, and look how fractured it is now. This sucks for Windstream employees, but there are 750-800 jobs open at Verizon, without needing to leave Lincoln.
CS September 6, 2007 at 9:26am
With the obvious advantages in speed with Broadband cable, I don’t blame customers for leaving. Doing streaming video or telecommuting over a DSL connection leaves some things to be desired. While I don’t enjoy my money ultimately going to TW, I like my local ISP (Ineb) and I really use the heck out of my cable connection for cable, phone/VOIP, and work. I don’t know if ‘blame’ is the right word to use, with it’s negative tone. Im not one to keep something for the nostalgia of it if its something that I used regularly. I want efficiency and speed, so my telecom must be that, regardless of whether or not the ‘local’ company suffers a little for it. They have to adapt, which they are, though painfully.
Fletch September 6, 2007 at 9:51am
Maybe “blame” wasn’t the right choice of words. I would just say that with so many options - many of which that are better - people have left the telecom in droves. They should have seen that earlier on and figured out how to compete, but at the same time, they can’t keep more people than needed on the payroll if there is less demand for the service.
CS September 6, 2007 at 10:03am
Right on, Fletch. I know where you are coming from. Its sad when local control is lost-I had worked for Alltel broadband support 4 years ago and it paid pretty darn good for a collegy job and it was relatively flexible. I work for a really good local SW company now doing jack of all trades stuff so I wouldn’t dream of working for a call center again.