As the federal government considers approving the AT&T and T-Mobile merger, I think it is important to look at what this deal will mean for jobs and for the working men and women of Indiana.
It’s no secret T-Mobile has fought against union representation of its workers for years, punishing any signs of organization. AT&T, on the other hand, stands back and lets workers decide for themselves. This merger means 20,000 T-Mobile workers will finally have a fair chance to make their own collective bargaining decisions.
The merger would also be a boost for our economy. AT&T’s plans include investing $8 billion post-merger to expand its next generation of wireless broadband services to many parts of the country that now lack fast cellular service. That will mean thousands of jobs to deliver the new infrastructure.
Making wireless broadband accessible to more people will enable businesses to reach more customers and thus add more jobs. People will be able to do many jobs online from wherever they are. Students of all ages can learn new skills and get an education through distance learning and online classes, better preparing themselves for tomorrow’s jobs.
This is a good deal for our economy. I hope the federal regulatory agencies take these benefits into consideration. We need this private economic stimulus.
Jay Potesta
Assistant Director of Government Affairs
Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association
