It's good to see that people asking the right questions are getting at least some coverage in the media.
Does anyone besides me remember CenturyLink giving millions of dollars in bonuses a few months ago? Now they are cutting more than 1,000 jobs! Only a portion of these bonuses would pay the 1,000 workers' salary for many years.
https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/opinion/readers/2018/05/11/letters-how-can-centurylink-cut-jobs-and-give-out-bonuses/600135002/
CTL only gave the end of year bonuses (in March). Christmas bonuses were taken away from us in 2017 and then no raises were given for the 2018 year. Maybe they felt obligated to give us our earned STI payout, but believe me, it was next to nothing.
Why is everyone missing the elephant in the room. The Union jumped into bed with Management. Look at the time line.
Got us to the table early and "convinced" Bargaining group that this was a good contract.
Bargaining group pushed locals into excepting this contract extension . (good till 2020)
Us who hated contract got ostracized.
Here's my speculation. (Remember timing is everything)
Contractor's have an 18 month moratorium from working craft positions.
Layoffs for craft started April. 90 days brings us to July 2018. 18 months brings us to January 2020.
Contractors brought back just before Union contract negotiations.
Contractor labor is a cheaper alternative to having a union controlled work force.
UNION broken.
Or spin of the service side (Craft) of Centurylink/Qwest Legacy.
Old ctl seems to have been too cozy, time to get efficient.
Companies don't exist to provide jobs. Exist to make money.
Don't need the 1000, need to reward management that takes care of shareholders.