Bell Let’s Talk Job Cuts: 1,200 Workers Offered Cash to Leave

It’s appears the annual Bell’s Let’s Talk tradition is in full swing, not just for raising mental health initiatives, but when it comes to cutting its workforce again.

Bell is offering severance packages to 1,200 union employees across Canada, citing financial challenges and a shrinking workload, the company confirmed Monday to the Globe and Mail.

The voluntary buyouts apply to admin and technical roles across several Bell divisions, but Bell Media is not included.

“Volunteering for an enhanced package will provide eligible unionized employees an option to retire or pursue new career opportunities,” said Bell spokesperson Luc Levasseur to the Globe.

The move comes as Bell faces financial pressure, with a high debt load of over $40.5 billion and dividend payouts exceeding its earnings.

Unifor, the union representing workers, slammed the Bell decision as expected. Bell has fought Unifor in the past to defend its job cuts, saying “facts matter”.

“Workforce reduction plans are a damaging stunt to temporarily reduce costs, making profits appear higher on the backs of workers. Bell cannot keep cutting jobs every year and expect the ship to turn itself around,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne in a statement. “Canada is potentially facing a trade war with the U.S., and Bell has chosen to once again leave Canadian workers unemployed in part to satisfy its move into the American market.”

“Job reductions bleed talent and increase stress and anxiety among Bell workers. The company loses by letting go of experienced workers, and the customer loses by relying on a smaller and smaller team of Bell employees to build and deliver services,” said Daniel Cloutier, Unifor Quebec Director.

Here’s a recently timeline of Bell job cuts pointed out by Unifor:

• June 2023 – 1,300 jobs cut across Bell.
• February 2024 – 4,800 jobs cut across Bell operations.
• June 2024 – 50 jobs cut at Bell Media.
• October 2024 – 120 jobs cut at Expertech.
• February 2025 – 1,200 buyouts offered to union workers.

“The question that we’re all asking is, ‘where does it end?’ After a few more years of this Mirko Bibic will look up and realize that Bell Canada is just three contractors in a trench coat, and by then it will be too late,” continued Payne. “At some point, someone at Bell has got to put forward a long-term plan that actually includes investing in Canada’s workers again.”

The news follows a similar move by Telus, which last week offered buyouts to 700 employees, citing technological improvements reducing workload.