AT&T expects 10,000 job cuts; Company says positions will be eliminated mostly through attrition following BellSouth acquisition.(Business)

Byline: Associated Press

NEW YORK - AT&T Inc. plans to cut up to 10,000 jobs, mostly through normal turnover, if its $67 billion purchase of BellSouth Corp. is approved by shareholders and regulators, AT&T's chief financial officer said Monday.

The work force reduction would take place over three years, AT&T's Rick Lindner said. Before the cuts, the combined company would have around 317,000 employees, including Cingular Wireless LLC, which is now an AT&T-BellSouth joint venture.

The new company would be the country's largest phone company - with nearly half of all lines. It also would be the largest cellphone carrier and the largest provider of …