More job cuts at MCI

MCI confirmed this week that it’s cutting its workforce by 7.4%, or about 4,000 employees.

The carrier announced earlier this year that it would eliminate about 1,700 jobs in an effort to trim costs.  MCI says the 4,000 layoffs announced Monday are in addition to the 1,700 jobs MCI cut in January.

MCI’s employee count now totals about 50,000.

MCI says the majority of the job cuts will come from the carrier’s call centers. The company blames the layoffs on the national “Do Not Call” registry that prevents telemarketers from calling individuals who joined the list.

"As a result of the impact of federal and state Do Not Call laws, as well as ongoing telecom market trends, we need to take this action in order to improve our overall cost structure," the carrier said in a prepared statement. "These actions will in no way impact our ability to serve our customers."

MCI is closing three call centers in Denver, Phoenix, and Niles, Ohio. The carrier is also reducing staff at its call centers in Alpharetta, Ga.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Springfield, Mo.

MCI has let more than 27,000 employees go since it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July 2002. MCI expects to emerge from bankruptcy in April.