STOCKHOLM, Sweden-As expected, the merger of Sweden’s Telia and Finland’s Sonera will see layoffs in the second quarter of 2003, and TeliaSonera’s Swedish and Finnish operations said they have both initiated discussions with personnel organizations. About 400 jobs will be cut in Finland, while the Swedish operator did not name a number of cuts in that country.
However, TeliaSonera Sweden said the first phase of reductions will involved reducing its external consultants and contract employees, along with the company’s own personnel.
“We have to secure our competitiveness and our capability to offer our customers value-for-money products,” said Marie Ehrling, president of TeliaSonera Sweden.
