LONDON - The union representing workers at Vodafone PLC said Monday it expects a significant number of layoffs as the mobile phone company restructures its British business.
The Connect union urged the company to work with the union on retraining and redeploying affected employees. The union's statement followed news reports that the company was on the verge of announcing several hundred job cuts. Vodafone declined to comment on the reports.
"We won't be commenting on that today. If we have any news of that kind coming we notify our employees first," said Libby Pritchard, senior PR manager at Vodafone.
"These are clearly difficult times and we do understand the pressures that the telecoms sector is under," said Steve Thomas, Connect's national officer dealing with Vodafone.
"It is our intention to work with the company to ensure that basic principles of employment are not abandoned and that our members and all Vodafone employees are treated with respect."
