Pacific Telesis Plans a Charge of $120 Million : Telecommunications: The write-off involves costs associated with work-force cuts. It will reduce quarterly earnings.

Pacific Telesis, moving forward with plans to reduce its work force, said Monday that it will take a $120-million charge against earnings to finance early retirement and severance packages for thousands of employees.

The telecommunications company said the one-time charge was expected to reduce its fourth-quarter earnings by about 30 cents a share. The firm’s fourth-quarter statement was expected to be released in two to three weeks.

In the fourth quarter of 1990, the company reported net income of $196 million, or 50 cents a share.

Its stock was among the most actively traded Monday, closing down 75 cents at 44.25 on the New York Stock Exchange.

Pacific Telesis, whose subsidiaries include Pacific Bell, Pacific Bell Directory, PacTel Corp. and Nevada Bell, announced in January, 1990, that it would eliminate about 11,000 jobs over the next four years.

“A lot of companies have had to do this. It’s a recognition that the company needs to reduce its costs to remain competitive,” Pacific Telesis spokesman Lou Saviano said. “We basically felt we had more people on our staff than we needed.”

About 4,300 managers have accepted either the lump-sum severance package or enhanced pension benefits available to employees with sufficient service to qualify for the early retirement program.

Overall, the company has reduced its work force by 6,500 since the cutback was announced two years ago.

The reductions continue a pattern toward a leaner and more competitive footing for Pacific Telesis.

The company now has 62,500 employees. It wants to cut another 4,000 to 5,000, Saviano said.

“We have to be flexible. It will depend on economic conditions out there, and conditions may change,” he said.

The fourth-quarter charge included costs of the employee buyout programs offered in November and December and anticipated future costs as the company finishes its staffing cutbacks over the next couple of years.