Telus Unveils Additional Voluntary Severance Packages Amidst Workforce Concerns
Telus has initiated a new wave of voluntary severance packages aimed at its Canadian workforce, a decision that the union representing numerous affected employees argues will precipitate further job losses and diminish service quality for consumers.
The United Steelworkers union reports that close to 700 employees nationwide are being offered these voluntary severance options, with more than 500 of those being union members.
This decision primarily impacts staff from Telus Business Solutions across British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec.
This recent offer from Telus comes nearly a year after the company extended similar severance opportunities to almost 700 employees across Canada, raising the total to approximately 1,400 severance offers within a 12-month span.
Michael Phillips, president of USW Local 1944, which represents around 4,000 Telus employees, indicated that workers have less than two weeks to make a decision on the packages, with a deadline set for January 21.
“Further reductions in the workforce at Telus will adversely affect communities and the Canadian economy at large, exacerbating the growing dissatisfaction Canadians have with the services provided by telecommunications companies,” Phillips asserted on Friday.
Phillips pointed to an alarming increase in customer grievances. Complaints lodged by Telus customers with the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services have surged by 62 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year.
“Canadians are not pleased with the current quality of service, and Telus’s decision to cut jobs is unlikely to ameliorate this situation,” he remarked.
The union has also directed criticism towards Ottawa for its perceived inaction regarding the safeguarding of telecom jobs and service standards. They contend that job reductions are occurring concurrently with governmental discussions about productivity challenges in Canada.
“The federal government continuously highlights a productivity issue in Canada. They should be advocating for improved telecom service standards, rather than passively observing as companies like Telus reduce essential business services,” Phillips stated.
Overview of Telus Job Cuts in Recent Years:
- 2023: Major restructuring announcement with a reduction of 6,000 jobs (including layoffs).
- 2024: Continued restructuring; net reduction of approximately 3,300 positions.
- 2025: Several waves of voluntary severance packages were introduced, including around 700 in February and further rounds impacting hundreds more.
- 2026 (January): Voluntary departure packages offered to approximately 700 employees within the Business Solutions division.
In response to inquiries, a Telus spokesperson provided this statement on Friday to iPhone in Canada:
This initiative mirrors the voluntary separation program we executed in 2025, driven by the swift transformation of our industry and the escalating customer demand for self-serve solutions. Consequently, we are presenting generous voluntary financial packages that surpass the stipulations of the Canada Labour Code, affording team members the choice to retire or seek opportunities outside our organization.
It is standard practice for us to extend voluntary departure offers to a wide spectrum of team members across the regions we operate in, aiming for fairness and equity among those in affected work areas. We anticipate a minimal number of team members engaging with this offer and reserve the right to limit the number of departures.
The United Steelworkers have vowed to persist in urging the federal government to intervene, contending that ongoing job losses pose a significant threat not only to Canadian workers but also to the integrity of the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure.
Source link: Iphoneincanada.ca.
