Bell Canada Cuts Jobs

MONTREAL -- BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE) todayannounced it will reduce the size of the Bell management team as part of anorganizational realignment focused on achieving a competitive cost structure.

The number of management departures at Bell will total approximately2,500, representing approximately 6% of the total Bell workforce or about 15%of management. These changes include the 30% reduction in executive positionsannounced on July 11. Combined with other reductions undertaken earlier thisyear, the changes announced today are expected to provide annualized savingsof approximately $300 million.

Non-management front-line service positions are not affected under thisorganizational realignment. Bell has been adding to its customer-facingservice force since earlier this year, in line with the company's commitmentto improve customer service at every level.

"It is always difficult to see colleagues depart, but these changes areabsolutely necessary. We are moving forward with a streamlined managementstructure that brings everyone at Bell closer to the customer and allows us tocompete more effectively," said George Cope, President and CEO of BCE and BellCanada. "This new structure positions us as a far more efficient andcost-effective operator in the intensely competitive Canadian communicationsmarketplace."

BCE Inc. (Bell Canada) (NYSE/Toronto: BCE)