Union president says Breezeline replaced local jobs with AI and subcontractors

“The Customer Care has been wiped out. They terminated all of them”

That’s what local IBEW Union President John Troha said after a meeting Tuesday night. He said that the cable company Breezeline employed dozens of community members until May, when half of the Customer Care department was laid off. Now, he said that the other half of the department was let go in late September.

“The first 13 [being laid off] was definitely a surprise because we just wrapped up negotiations for their contract. It did not seem like it was going to be any layoffs, no terminations, no nothing. After those 13, we were worried that they might go for more. The first one was a surprise, the second one not so much,” said Troha.

He explained that in the union’s contract with Breezeline, the company is allowed to use subcontractors to do work that will help out the department. However, he said if this results in the termination of employees, it’s not allowed.

“We’re told that the work being performed by these people’s jobs is AI and subcontractors,” said Troha. “They still currently have probably 150 or more contractors from the Philippines working doing their job.”

Troha added that the union recently went through the arbitration process with Breezeline, but all of their appeals were denied. He said aside from that, they’ve heard very little from the company itself. Troha said that the union is going to continue fighting the decision.

“One I just found out was with the company. She’s 69 years old. She was with the company for 30 some years and was just laid off. So, it’s very big,” he said.

Troha also that the union plans to meet with Breezeline lawyers about the issue next Tuesday.

We’ve reached out to Breezeline for comment and are awaiting a response.