AT&T Inc. has announced plans to eliminate 138 positions at its Fleming Island facility, just three months after finalizing a new contract with the Communications Workers of America (CWA).
In a letter dated December 13 to the Florida Department of Commerce, the company detailed that 135 customer service roles at the 2000 Town Center Blvd. location in Orange Park are slated for termination. Employees have been given until March 22 to secure alternative positions within the company; otherwise, their employment will conclude. Additionally, three management roles are being eliminated, as specified in a corrected letter sent on December 17.
An AT&T spokesperson explained the decision in an emailed statement: “We’re undergoing targeted workforce reductions and focusing on growth areas as part of our regular review of operations to ensure we have the right level of support where needed.” The spokesperson emphasized that such decisions are challenging and not made lightly, noting efforts to minimize impact through attrition, voluntary departures, and reskilling initiatives. Eligible employees affected by the layoffs will receive severance pay and benefits.
This workforce reduction follows a significant labor action in August, when approximately 17,000 CWA members, including some from the Fleming Island facility, initiated a strike against AT&T on August 16. The month-long strike concluded on September 15 with the announcement of a new five-year contract covering workers across nine Southeastern states. The agreement secured a 19.33% wage increase for the employees.
CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. highlighted the union’s objectives in an October news release following the contract’s ratification: “Our members were clear from the start: every CWA member at AT&T has value and no one should be treated like a second-class employee.” He added that the new contracts provide members with family-supporting wages and benefits and address longstanding concerns about overtime and overscheduling, issues that previously kept employees away from their families and hindered their ability to plan their lives. These factors also negatively impacted the quality of service that members aim to deliver.
The situation underscores the ongoing challenges within the telecommunications industry as companies like AT&T navigate operational adjustments in a rapidly evolving market.
This development has raised concerns among employees and union representatives, especially in light of the recent efforts to secure better employment terms. The affected workers now face the task of seeking new opportunities within or outside the company amidst an uncertain economic landscape.