Not defending the horrible pressure techniques, but how was a company which had now lost its protected market and facing competition for the first time while unable to let go employees supposed to be competitive and make a profit?
Doesn't look like it, but this kind of situation is known in argentina where it's unconstitutional to fire a public employee. Voluntary retirements are somewhat effective, but also expensive which is usually the crisis that pushes states to privatize.
Shouldn't matter because there was nothing stopping them from making their own telecomm company from scratch then. If they didn't think the costs of those employees were worth it, they shouldn't have bought it.
It is like buying a used car with 3rd party stanced suspension and tires and then lamenting later on how you need to buy custom parts and tires when they wear out. There were other choices, but it just had to be that one, and those extra 'features' were very clearly presented as part of the original deal.
