MTS improving cost structure through voluntary workforce reduction

Program will unlock funding to invest in the systems and tools to enhance the customer experience

WINNIPEG, Oct. 13, 2015 /CNW/ - (TSX:MBT) MTS, Manitoba's leading full-service information and telecommunications provider, today announced that as part of continued efforts to transform the organization, enhance the customer experience, and position the company post the sale of its Allstream division, it is making changes to improve its cost structure, including the size of its workforce.

The company today announced a voluntary workforce reduction program to employees within its Manitoba operations, affecting MTS TEAM union and non-union employees. The number of reductions will be determined by employee interest in the voluntary workforce reduction program as well as organizational needs. The majority of the positions are back office support functions, and not customer facing.

"We want MTS to be customer first in everything we do," said Jay Forbes, CEO of MTS. "To achieve this we are transforming to give customers greater value and enhanced service levels. A voluntary workforce reduction program is something that some of our long serving employees have been interested in.  It will unlock funding earlier to allow us to invest in the processes, systems and tools necessary to make the customer first at MTS."

"In the past month we have announced several customer enhancements, including expanding our 4G LTE Network to more communities in the province, launching customer focused products like Total Internet, opening a flagship Customer First store at Polo Park, and investing in a $53 million state-of-the art data facility, Manitoba's first Tier III data centre," said Forbes. "All of these investments are putting the needs and expectations of our customers first. We will use our more streamlined cost structure to fund these and other investments to create that unique experience our customers expect from us."

More information about the transformation at MTS will be provided in the Company's third quarter 2015 earnings release on November 4, 2015.

About MTS Inc.
MTS is Manitoba's leading communications company, connecting people and places with wireless, high-speed Internet, TV, home phone and security services. MTS also offers a full suite of business solutions, including information technology, data storage and cloud computing through EPIC Information Solutions and MTS Data Centres.  Founded more than a century ago and deeply rooted in the community, MTS provides grants, scholarships, sponsorships and volunteer support to youth-serving organizations across the province through MTS Future First. MTS is wholly owned by Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. (TSX: MBT). For more on MTS's products and services, visit www.mts.ca.

Forward-looking Statements Disclaimer
This news release includes forward-looking statements and information (collectively, the "statements") about improvements to MTS's cost structure, MTS's organizational transformation, MTS's workforce reduction, sale of Allstream, and MTS's products and services that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. As a consequence, actual results in the future may differ materially from any conclusion, forecast or projection in such forward-looking statements. Therefore, forward-looking statements should be considered carefully and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Examples of statements that constitute forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "believe", "expect", "project", "should", "anticipate", "could", "target", "forecast", "intend", "plan", "outlook", "see", "set", "pending", and other similar terms.

Factors that could cause anticipated opportunities and actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, matters identified in the "Material assumptions" section and the "Risks and uncertainties" section of the Company's 2014 Annual Management's Discussion & Analysis, Q2 2015 Management's Discussion & Analysis, and 2014 Annual Information Form, all of which are available on SEDAR www.sedar.com.

Please note that forward-looking statements reflect Management's expectations as at the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE Manitoba Telecom Services Inc.