Date: Fri 12-Feb-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

SNET-layoffs-SBC

Full Text:

SNET To Cut 450 Positions, But Says Will Add Jobs Later

NEW HAVEN (AP) -- SNET Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Daniel J. Miglio

left his job in October, two days after the company merged with SBC

Communications of Texas.

Now 450 of his former colleagues are leaving their jobs, too.

About five percent of Southern New England Telecommunications Inc.'s 9,000

employees will lose their jobs, a SNET spokeswoman said. But the company hopes

to add 1,000 new jobs in Connecticut before 2003, and workers who lose their

jobs may be able to find other positions within the company.

Employees began receiving letters last week saying their jobs would be

eliminated or consolidated with other positions.

"They told us that our department was not going to be in existence anymore,

that all the work will be done at other SBC offices," a 25-year employee told

The New Haven Register . The employee spoke on condition of anonymity.

Most of the job cuts will be managers, the newspaper reported, citing sources

within the company.

Departments affected so far include finance, external affairs and regulatory

offices, SNET spokeswoman Beverly Levy said.

But Levy said the cuts are not layoffs. Because SNET is encouraging workers to

look at other in-house opportunities, it is not clear how many will actually

leave the company, she told The Hartford Courant .

Despite the job cuts, SNET and Texas-based SBC plan to make good on a promise

to Connecticut utility regulators to have 10,000 Connecticut employees by

2003, Levy said.

The company could come close to the target this year, she said.

"We hope to be approaching it. It's only February and there is a good

likelihood we'll be adding more jobs. We would be very happy if people decided

to stay within our company. We're trying to grow the numbers," she said.

Five top managers have left SNET since the merger in October.

Mr Miglio, who had been CEO since 1993, retired in October. Fred T. Page, the

president of network services, and Anne MacClintock, the vice president of

regulatory affairs and public policy, also retired.

Chief Financial Officer Donald R. Shassian and Ronald M. Serrano, the senior

vice president of the communications, information and entertainment group,

have also left the company.

SNET has added new positions since the merger, Ms Levy said. About 200 people

have been hired for 300 new service representative, operator and manager jobs,

she said. Some engineers have also been hired.

Employees have 90 days to apply for other positions within SBC. Severance

benefits will be offered to employees who lose their jobs and do not find

another SNET job, Ms Levy said.