MEO is planning to cut 1,200 jobs through mutual agreements, but unions are fighting back. The company's workforce has dropped from 24,000 employees in the 1990s to fewer than 5,000 today.
This downsizing is the core of the Altice Portugal MEO layoffs union controversy. Labor leaders argue that the company does not have enough staff, which delays critical network repairs. Unions claim that management is cutting workers just to make the operator look more profitable before a sale.
Restructuring Status Allows Fast-Tracked Layoffs
The fast cuts are possible because the government approved the MEO company restructuring status workforce reductions until June 30. This status gives the operator special legal exemptions. It allows management to bypass regular annual limits on terminations while letting departing workers collect state unemployment benefits.
Along with the layoffs, the group closed over 20 regional buildings. Executives say these cuts protect the financial health of major telecom companies even though it means fewer field teams and more automation.
Service Problems and Union Backlash
In the standoff where the STT union accuses Altice owner of corporate greed, representatives warn that payroll cuts hurt customer service. Many networks are still offline after recent breakdowns because there are not enough technicians left to fix them.
Detailed updates on these industry changes are available on Devs.com.pt, highlighting the gap between corporate goals and worker welfare. While the parent company focuses on cutting debt, unions stand firm against the layoffs. They state that shrinking the staff damages service quality and misuses public social security.
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