CHICAGO – Long-distance telephone and cable-television giant AT&T Corp. will likely cut over 3,000 to 4,000 more jobs over the next few months in addition to the 9,000 it has already cut, a source close to the situation said on Friday.
Including the expected additional job cuts, AT&T's work force would be reduced by more than 12 percent from the 125,000 employees it had at the beginning of 2001.
AT&T spokeswoman Eileen Connolly declined to comment on the number of additional job cuts AT&T will be making.
However, she said, ``AT&T is taking many steps to cut expenses and drive costs out of the business to remain competitive in a very challenging industry.
``We will look for additional ways to trim costs and will continue to adjust the size of our work force to meet marketplace needs. Some organizations will get smaller, while others, in our growth areas, will expand.''
The Wall Street Journal on Friday reported on Friday that AT&T was expected to cut up to 10,000 more jobs over the next few months.
The source said, however, that estimate was too high, adding that AT&T's executives have not yet finished reaching decisions about it.
``It's probably over (3,000) or 4,000 but somewhere probably under (10,000),'' the source said.
AT&T said last month that it expects to take a fourth-quarter restructuring charge, which would include costs related to additional job cuts.
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