TELECOMMUNICATIONS

US West Cutting Staff: US West Inc. said it would reduce its work force by 6,000 and sell its real estate holdings in the next three years. The regional telephone company said it will take a $590-million, or $1.47-per-share, after-tax charge in the fourth quarter to account for the restructuring, said Dick McCormick, US West president and chief executive. Based in Englewood, Colo., US West has about 70,000 employees, including 55,070 in its telephone subsidiary, US West Communications. The job reductions will begin early next year, affecting managers and workers in US West Communications Inc. The specific positions to be eliminated have not been identified, Leach said.