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Sprint Lays Off 8,000 Workers

Kansas City, MO – Cell phone carrier Sprint Nextel will lay off some 8000 workers by the end of March.

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The current round of layoffs comes on the heels of more than 4-thousand Sprint employees losing their jobs late last year. Sprint has struggled over the past year losing customers and more than 1 billion dollars in the first three quarters. Sprint spokeswoman Laura Lisic says the job cuts are aimed at shoring up the nation's number three cell phone company.

LAURA LISIC: "Sprint is feeling the impact of a struggling economy and we need to remain competitive. And we need to be leaner, and we need to remain strong."

Sprint plans to cut jobs at every level, saving some one-point-two billion dollars a year. Those remaining at Sprint will also feel the pinch. The company has frozen salaries and will suspend matches to worker's retirement account.

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