Last month, AT&T managers presented technicians in California with a stark choice -- accept a voluntary buyout offer now with enhanced severance pay and benefits, or risk involuntary job cuts in the fall if the company didn’t meet its target for voluntary separations. However, with the technicians who accepted the offer leaving payroll this week, AT&T changed course. Although fewer than half of the target number of technicians took the voluntary offer, the company announced that it will not impose involuntary cuts to make up the difference.