Telus delivers New Year gut punch to Canadian businesses, communities

Core Viewpoint - Telus has announced another round of voluntary severance packages, further reducing its workforce in Canada, which raises concerns about the impact on the economy and service quality in the telecommunications sector [1][2]. Group 1: Job Cuts and Workforce Impact - Telus has offered nearly 700 voluntary severance packages to its Canadian workers, including over 500 members of the United Steelworkers union [2]. - The job cuts are primarily affecting Telus Business Solutions operations in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec [3]. - Workers have until January 21 to decide on the severance offers [3]. Group 2: Customer Service Concerns - Complaints from Telus customers to the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services increased by 62% in 2025 compared to 2024, indicating growing dissatisfaction with service quality [4]. - The job cuts at Telus are expected to exacerbate customer dissatisfaction with telecommunications services in Canada [4][5]. Group 3: Government and Union Response - The Canadian government has been criticized for not taking action to address job losses or service standard concerns in the telecommunications sector [5][6]. - The United Steelworkers union plans to continue lobbying the federal government to protect Canadian jobs and maintain the integrity of the national telecom infrastructure [6].