French telecommunications equipment maker Alcatel has said it will cut an additional 2500 jobs in the United States, or 16 percent of its work force, and close a manufacturing facility in Raleigh in an effort to cut costs during the economic slowdown.
Alcatel, which recently ended merger talks with Lucent Technologies, last month said it would cut about 900 jobs in the US and close three plants. In the latest effort, Alcatel will shift manufacturing functions from Raleigh to other locations or contract manufacturers. It will continue to conduct some research and development efforts there.
The Paris-based company runs its American operations out of Dallas and employs about 15,000 workers in the US and about 130,000 people worldwide. The US accounted for about 23 percent of Alcatel's sales last year.
Alcatel is just one of several equipment makers hurt by the slowdown in the economy and a cutback in spending by telecommunications and Internet service provider customers.
