BellSouth Corp. said yesterday it will cut 1,500 jobs by the end of next April.
"Reducing workforce is the toughest business decision a company has to make," said Duane Ackerman, BellSouth chairman and CEO. "We have worked hard to avoid it, but many companies our size and particularly our competitors operate with lower overhead and fewer management layers."
BellSouth is facing fierce competition from cable companies that offer triple-play services, and that are stealing subscribers away from the nation’s third-largest local phone company.
BellSouth -- which also reduced its workforce numbers in 2000 and 2003 -- said most of the cuts will come from management positions. The carrier will offer voluntary severance packages.
BellSouth Corp. www.bellsouth.com
