Telus offers buyouts to 2,000 employees in bid to trim workforce

Telecommunications giant Telus is looking to shed several hundred people from its Canadian workforce by offering buyouts to 2,000 people.

The Toronto Star first reported the news on Wednesday evening, saying the cuts have been targeted to customer support roles for wireless, internet and cablecustomers.

USWLocal 1944, which represents 6,500 Telus workers across the country, says2,000 buyout packages have been offered.

According to the company's most recent annual report, the company has 108,500 employees in total, of which34,700 are in Canada.

When asked for comment by CBC News, Telus said that while it has made the offer to 2,000 workers, it will cap the actual number of packages it would accept far lower.

"We are offering a voluntary separation package to 2,000 team members, and anticipate several hundred to accept the offer. We will also only accept several hundred to opt-in," the company told CBC News in a statement.

The move comes barely two months afterTelus signed a deal with USW on a collective bargaining pact that is in force until 2027.