Announced Layoffs by Profitable Telus, Regrettable and Unnecessary

BURNABY, BC, Nov. 5 2015 /CNW/ - Telus announced today through the media that it will be reducing its workforce by 1,500 full-time employees from across Canada.

"We are extremely disappointed to learn of Telus' decision to reduce their workforce at a time when the company is extremely profitable.  It is also disappointing to have been notified through the media, when the company will have known about this decision for some time," said Lee Riggs, TWU, USW National Local 1944 President.

Telus was tight lipped about who will be affected, but they gave assurances that our bargaining unit will not face any layoffs.  Downsizing will be done through attrition and through voluntary buy-out packages.

We anticipate that the jobs of skilled professionals in your community will be offshored and contracted out, even though Telus brought in $398 million net in the past 3 months and today increased shareholder dividends by 10%.

President Riggs continued by saying: "our members work hard to provide great service from coast to coast and it is extremely disappointing to see how Telus values both their employees and subscribers."

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)

Brett Barden, TWU, USW National Local 1944, 604-230-0553, [email protected].; Etta Hall, TWU, USW National Local 1944, 604-437-8601, [email protected].