AT&T to lay off 60 area workers

About 140 union workers at AT&T -- including 60 in Schaumburg -- are expected to be laid off by Tuesday, and the local center will be closed.

The workers, all members of Communications Workers Local 4202, are among 250 nationwide who track cell towers, via computer networks, to see when alarms go off. They then inform onsite workers to help them in repairs.

"Those positions have been declared surplus, meaning these workers will be offered other jobs within the company or given a severance package," AT&T spokesman Jerry Lawrence said.

In May, the union held an informational picket outside the Schaumburg center in an attempt to save those jobs. The other 80 affected workers are in King of Prussia, Penn. The layoffs are part of a previously announced plan for restructuring of the company.

The jobs from Schaumburg and Pennsylvania are being transferred to similar centers in Atlanta and Redmond, Wash.

Local 4202 President Holly Sorey said these jobs have been vital to the integrity of AT&T's wireless network here. If the system isn't tracked properly, problems at the cell sites could lead to burns or even electrocute workers.

"It all comes down to experience and knowledge," said Sorey. "This is not a job you can just jump into and know in a few months. It often takes workers up to a year to get comfortable with. Our contention has been that these layoffs will affect service that customers are used to here."

The union trackers make between $19 and $32 an hour, said Sorey.