WiseTech faces petition over fairness in planned 2,000 job cuts
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 6
WiseTech faces petition over fairness in planned 2,000 job cuts
11 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 6
The union-backed Megaphone petition had more than 300 signatures as staff across 40 countries said they had waited nearly three months to learn whether they were affected.
WiseTech announced in February it would cut almost 30% of its 7,000 workforce over 18 months, with product, development and customer service teams facing reductions of up to 50%.
Workers described severe stress as the AI-led restructure drags on, while founder Richard White reportedly told investors AI agents could learn a human job in 15 minutes.
Is AI a convenient excuse for mass layoffs or a genuine driver of corporate efficiency?
What is the human cost of leaving thousands of employees in limbo for months?
If AI can take your job, can it also help you sue your former employer?
AI Automation Drives WiseTech Global to Slash Nearly 30% of Workforce, Triggering Union and Legal Challenges
Overview
In early 2026, WiseTech Global announced a major workforce reduction, cutting about 2,000 jobs globally, including up to 50% at its U.S. subsidiary E2open, driven by CEO Zubin Appoo's rationale that AI advancements made traditional coding obsolete. This restructuring sparked a sharp 11.1% stock surge but left shares still 68% below their 2024 peak. The cuts triggered union backlash, legal challenges, and customer concerns over new pricing and support. Despite these issues, WiseTech's strategic shift to a transaction-based pricing model and its acquisition of e2open led analysts to recommend buying the stock, citing strong growth potential. However, the layoffs signal a lasting industry shift, causing cultural damage and highlighting tensions between AI efficiency and the need for human expertise.