Telstra to cut 1,100 staff by June in overhaul of its operations

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/sep/25/telstra-cuts-jobs-overhaul

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Telstra is cutting 1,100 staff as part of a restructure of its operations business.

The cuts will be made by June next year, and will affect network technicians, members of its media operations team and management in its customer service division.

The chief operations officer, Brendon Rile, said the restructure would remove complexity and duplication in Telstra's business.

Telstra flagged big job cuts in May when it announced it would conduct an overhaul of its operations.

"At the time, we said we expected there to be impacts on jobs from these changes and, after reviewing the business over the last few months, today we briefed our people on the expected impacts," Riley said.

"Always when there are implications for people's jobs it is difficult and this is no exception.

"We will work through a careful consultation process with our people and we will do so with the utmost respect and sensitivity."

The cuts will reduce Telstra's operations workforce by 6%.

They include losses of fixed network technicians in NSW, the ACT, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland; a review of the media operations team; and restructure of the customer service delivery team.

Riley said the reduction in workforce numbers did not change the telco's absolute commitment to continue to improve service for its customers.

"We are seeing reductions of roles in declining businesses, due to evolving technologies and the restructuring of our industry, and growth in other areas such as NAS [network applications and services division]," he said.

Telstra cut 700 jobs out of its Sensis division in February.

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