And from the Who’s drinking the KOOL-AID column

AT&T has said that they’re willing to bring 5000 outsourced call center jobs back to the US if their merger with T-Mobile is approved. Read about it here.

This should PISS you off! It does me…

First, this is blackmail with American workers as the currency.

I’ve long believed and have stated it here and elsewhere, Offshoring is Treason. For companies to idle American workers in favor of workers in foreign lands does nothing but weaken the economy and harms our country. By any definition that is Treason.

Second, If AT&T can bring those jobs back to the United States they should now with no discussion and

This demonstrates the kind of thinking that is rampant in AT&T. It’s a clear indication of how self important AT&T thinks they are, and is a foretaste of things to come.

Having been an AT&T customer and suffered through their plan & rate changes, their subtle airtime charging methods, and the high prices for texting, and data plans I can tell you if they complete this merger the consumer will be screwed.

I wish that the FCC and Congress would haul AT&T into hearings and deliver an ultimatum that goes something like;

Bring all call center jobs back and we’ll not force you to break up your regional business units into smaller companies… you are dismissed.

UPDATE

Shortly after I wrote and posted the entry above, This showed up in my news feed.

The US has filed an Anti-Trust suit to block the AT&T / T-Mobile merger. The complaint states that competition would be substantially reduced by such a merger.

Talk about ask & ye shall receive…