Topic: Windstream files Chapter 11

[rich30529]

This is the company that I recently left.

https://windstreamrestructuring.com/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=2019_Branded_CON_Restructure_Info&utm_term=%2Bwindstream%20%2Bchapter%20%2B11&utm_content=2019Q1Restructure&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp5vp8rio4gIVBFcNCh2DgwDqEAAYASAAEgIE-vD_BwE

Good techs and good people work there. After offering a employee buyout for the 3rd time, I finally took the 50K and ran as fast as I could. Those that were offered and didn't take it were forced to take unemployment with no severance at all. They got rid of all Network techs virtually rendering all of their CO's unmanned. They would not promote within nor hire any new NT's and instead tossed the load onto the BST's (Business Techs) for way less money.

Right before announcing the filing in Federal Bankruptcy court, the board extended the contract for the failing CEO Tony Thomas, amended the contract for early termination for the CEO for more money, and issued him a nice hefty bonus for his superior job at running the company into the ground. They're currently being propped up by CitiBank at the tune of $1 Billion to keep the paychecks coming. They should be investigated thoroughly as I'm sure there is some shady business going on here.

I recently talked to one of the managers there and was told that they're hiring with no experience at starting rate of $16 per hour. No way these new guys will be able to maintain an already crippled outdated infrastructure with no experience nor a senior staff to help train them. Almost everyone there has less than 10 years with the company. The old timers that are there are so disgusted that they're just biding their time until they're let go or they retire. They don't get paid to train their replacements, and I can't say I blame them at all. All I know is I'm glad I left with 50K instead of 0K.

[Keighlar]

Good job reading the writing on the wall.     These companies merge, go under and reinvent themselves so many times and ways that I can't keep my head wrapped around who's who.

[rich30529]

I was one of over 60 guys overall to take the 50K buyout just in Northeast Georgia alone. Who knows how many took it nationwide. I do consider myself lucky for getting the buyout considering I was only there for two years. And yes, they're already rebranding themselves as "Kinetic" with "by Windstream" underneath in extremely small lettering. Lol

[Rhonda]

We have EarthLink as our Hosted Phone System.  EarthLink was recently bought up by Windstream in the last couple years.  As EarthLink, we had decent service.  Ever since Windstream came into the mix our service has degraded and the customer service is almost non existent.  Our reps rarely even reply to us when we send an email.  And when our service is down, we hear crickets.  We are working to find a new vendor, and rightly quick.  Their stock prices were at $0.13 per share the last time I looked.  They appear to be hanging by a thread.  We need to scramble.

[rich30529]

Hang on, Rhonda! From here on out the ride is gonna get rougher. Find another vendor if you can with the quickness!