Telia in talks with trade unions for cutbacks in Sweden, Finland and Norway
STOCKHOLM, January 17 (Reuters) – Swedish telecom operator Telia (TELIA.ST) on Tuesday said it had opened talks with unions in Sweden, Finland and Norway about further potential job cuts as part of a restructuring plan announced two years ago.
The current layoffs will affect around 100 positions in Finland, 150 in Sweden and 70 in Norway, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The company, which operates telecom networks in the Nordics and Baltics, laid out plans in 2021 to cut billions of kroner in costs until 2025, including cutting staff, divesting assets and streamlining operations to boost growth.
Chief executive Allison Kirkby has raised investors’ hopes that she can stimulate growth and shareholder returns. Last quarter, she said in an interview that the company was on track for SEK 2 billion in savings by the end of 2023.
“The transformation continues in 2023 where the local processes, including union negotiations, have now started,” Telia said in a statement.
Since 2021, Telia, which employs around 20,000 regular staff and consultants, has cut 1,000 positions every year.
The current round of layoffs would be completed in the first quarter, and the total number of positions eliminated for the full year could exceed 1,000, the source said.
Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Stockholm, editing by Anna Ringström and Terje Solsvik
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