Bell terminates over 400 employees in a sudden virtual meeting

Unifor union denounces these layoffs as "shameful" and "disgusting"

Layoffs follows Bell's announcement in February to cut 4,800 jobs

Bell, the telecommunications giant in Canada, has sparked controversy by terminating more than 400 employees in a sudden virtual meeting, citing them as “surplus.” Criticized by the Unifor union, the move has been denounced as “shameful” and “disgusting,” particularly due to the manner in which employees were handed pink slips during 10-minute sessions, triggering concerns about transparency and communication.

Unifor’s Quebec director reportedly expressed dismay, stating, “Our dedicated members, with years of service, are repaid with pink slips.” Despite Bell’s assertion that it had maintained transparency with union leadership for over five weeks prior to the layoffs and offering terminated employees individual HR meetings to discuss severance packages, skepticism remains.

This wave of layoffs follows Bell’s announcement in February to cut 4,800 jobs, approximately 9% of its workforce. CEO Mirko Bibic reportedly defended the decision, emphasizing organizational simplification despite facing criticism over increased shareholder dividends.

Unifor has accused Bell of prioritizing shareholders over workers’ well-being, citing ambiguity regarding job cuts. The union has pledged to advocate for affected employees’ rights and hold Bell accountable, reigniting discussions on corporate responsibility in the telecom industry.

In a similar vein, Dell has disclosed its plans to reduce costs by cutting jobs and limiting external hiring. With nearly 120,000 employees as of February 2024, down from 126,000 previously, Dell cites declining demand for computers as a primary reason for the layoffs, following a reported 11% decrease in revenue in the last quarter of the year.