Report says that T-Mobile will layoff a substantial number of workers as soon as Thursday

According to a story in the Seattle Times, T-Mobile is about to pass out a substantial number of pink slips to employees in the company's headquarters in Bellevue, Washington. With conference rooms reserved for "integration" meetings on Thursday, we could see the layoffs announced this week. At least 100 workers in marketing and other groups are expected to get laid off.

Last year, the nation's fourth largest carrier cut more than 4,200 jobs with 3,300 call-center jobs eliminated and a further 900 people let go from around the company. The carrier has a headcount of about 36,000 employees in the U.S. While the DOJ has already approved T-Mobile's reverse merger with MetroPCS, the FCC hasn't and the agency has been petitioned by a coalition in Congress and by the CWA which warned Congress that the merger could lead to substantial job losses.

Since the resulting company after the merger will be traded publicly, T-Mobile will have to answer to public stock holders. This means keeping costs and headcount down. Previously the company was owned by German telco Deutsche Telekom which will own 74% of the combined companies after the deal closes.

source: SeattleTimes via TmoNews