The U.S. Justice Department has filed an antitrust complaint to block the merger between AT&T, the nation's second largest wireless provider, and Bellevue-based T-Mobile, the nation's fourth.

“AT&T’s elimination of T-Mobile as an independent, low- priced rival would remove a significant competitive force from the market,” the U.S. said in its filing.

Ya think?

No doubt many workers at T-Mobile's Bellevue headquarters will be cheered by the news, as a lot of local jobs (T-Mobile employs about 3,300 in the Seattle-area) would surely be eliminated thanks to the increased "efficiencies" the merger would achieve. Rank and file workers nationwide, maybe not so much, as a merger with the unionized AT&T would bring them the many additional benefits and job protections that come with union membership. But consumers are surely the biggest winners.

The deal isn't necessarily dead—large corporations tend to get their own way—but AT&T will likely be forced to make additional concessions if they hope to eventually get Justice's approval.