Telefonica has reached an agreement with workers unions in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro states and is launching a voluntary layoff programme.

The measure follows the merger of Telefonica’s fixed and mobile operations, the WSJ reports, citing a statement by the Sao Paulo state telecom workers union (Sintetel). According to Sintetel, Telefonica wanted a broader reduction in force, but the unions were able to negotiate it down to 1,500.

The union did now disclose how many job cuts were originally sought. The job cuts are equivalent to about 8 percent of the operator’s total workforce of 18,885 as of December 2011. Employees can sign up for a voluntary redundancy program between 12 and 14 March, the union said.