TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Bell South to Trim 8,000 Jobs by 1996: Bell South Corp. said it plans to cut its work force by 8,000 jobs, or about 8%, within four years to streamline its telecommunications business in nine Southern states. The company expects attrition to account for a large number of the job cuts. It also plans to merge the headquarters staff of its Bell South Enterprises business unit with its corporate staff. Shares in Bell South were off $1.125 at $48.875 on the New York Stock Exchange after the announcement. Atlanta-based Bell South is the largest regional telephone holding company to result from the breakup of American Telephone & Telegraph Co. It employs nearly 97,000 people.