From Ntwk2Wireless,...worth it ?

:loony: Greetings all-

I work for VZN / fGTE in PA. and am fed up. I have about 8 yrs. as a Ntwk, ckts tech., everything from POTS to OC48, switching,etc. But, I just can't stand the overwhelmingly negative work environment anymore.
I'm thinking that perhaps a change to a "growth" area of telecom., like wireless, may be the answer. Am I even remotely correct ?
If not, I'll likely bail out of telco altogether. My mental state will demand it.
Thanks, Steve

 

John:

Thats a big part of the problem. In my area, we are IBEW. We, as fGTE, have gotten an extremely raw deal with the whole merger. We make far less $$ than our CWA neighbors, yet cross many lines in the work environment. I don't sit in a cubicle. I can essentially trouble shoot a T1, refer it to myself, and go outside and work on it. I've been setting up and provisioning all kinds of ckts for over 5 yrs now, and the switches,...well,....they're basically just falling apart. In the fBA world, this would be 2 or 3 seperate techs. It sucks. We have no competent management, or any that are seriously interested fixing the problems. They all run scared of the evil VZN. As far as PBX stuff, fGTE in my area has all but given that up. Rumours are flying,........all fGTE for sale etc., in PA.
In some respects, no, probably all, we were better off pre merger.
As far as VZW goes, they are non union, (yes, VZW has been succesful thus far of blocking unionization--they throw the cell tech guys .40 / hour and they all shut up for another year or two) and manage entirely through intimidation. Last I knew, VZW in my region was down site techs (they're under paid BTW) with no likely approval to hire anyone.
In one of Ivan Seidenbergs (VZN CEO - the whole shabang) quarterly video casts to VZN employees not too long ago, he actually conveyed a story that "while at the supper table, one of my kids asked me Dad, ...why do you make so much money?" To which Ivan replied, "because I earn it"
Yep,....great leadership. Pass the BMW's please.
The whole thing blows, and is taking it's tole on my mental state. I deserve a better company to work for damnit, than this wreched VZN.

Thanks for the input - Steve

p.s - on the transfer to fBA areas, it's a one way street. People have been trying, noone succesful that I know of. I tried 3 yrs ago, to go to an area 30 ,im. drive time to my North. Even though I'd lose my seniority, I thought the pay raise would be worth it. Oh, and do less work too ! At least not in craft jobs, and very, very few, in management that I've heard of.