Thread: AT&T Pledges to Return 5,000 Call Center Jobs to U.S.

AT&T Pledges to Return 5,000 Wireless Call Center Jobs to U.S.

Will not move any U.S.-based jobs offshore

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable
8/31/2011 9:33:24 AM

In an effort to sweeten the T-Mobile deal, AT&T has pledged to return 5,000 wireless call center jobs to the U.S. and not move any currently U.S.-based call center jobs offshore.

Jobs are issue number one in the current administration, and FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski made a road trip earlier this month to put the FCC's imprimatur on a broadband-based effort to create more call center jobs in the U.S.

AT&T said the 5,000 jobs will be well-paying, with competitive benefits. "At a time when many Americans are struggling and our economy faces significant challenges, we're pleased that the T-Mobile merger allows us to bring 5,000 jobs back to the United States and significantly increase our investment here," said Randall Stephenson, AT&T Chairman and CEO, in announcing the pledge, which would become effective after the close of the proposed $39 billion deal. "This merger and today's commitment are good for our employees, our customers and our country."

AT&T was billing it as the biggest commitment by an American company to bring jobs back to the country since 2008. The company also pointed to an analysis of its pledged $8 billion infrastructure investment that shows it would create 96,000 new jobs.

"AT&T's commitment today along with the substantial job creation that will come from the future deployment of an LTE network to 97% of the U.S. underscores that a combined AT&T–T-Mobile will generate substantial benefits for our economy. We urge rapid regulatory approval so that the benefits of this transaction can be realized," said T-Mobile in a statement.

AT&T has pledged to build out next-generation wireless to 97% of the population, a major goal of the Obama White House.

The FCC last week re-started the clock on its merger review of the deal, which has been criticized by deal opponents as potentially reducing competition in the wireless space and threatening jobs.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/articl ... o_U_S_.php

I will believe it when I see it.

Call center employees in Pakistan and India are so numerous they have become the new upper class in those countries.

They even send their employees to the USA to learn how Americans talk, walk, and chew their bubble gum.

Although this is painted as a jobs program, the truth is that customers often cannot understand Indian or Pakistani customer service representatives and request a transfer to an American rep.

More and more companies are opening or expanding U.S. call centers.

Example:

Company to hire 350 for its Tucson AZ. call centers

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-248729-tucson.html+jobs