BBC

Workers unions fear UK jobs could be hit by the announcement that Swedish telecoms equipment maker Ericsson is to cut 12,000 jobs worldwide.

The UK division of Ericsson employs 1,500 people at sites in London, Guildford and Sussex in jobs ranging from software and system development to management and support.

But it is still unclear where the sweeping cuts will land, except that there will be a "substantial reduction in the number of consultants", in some areas by over 50%.

The announcement follows only a month after the telecoms firm announced it was axing 3,300 jobs worldwide - including the closure of two UK factories, with the loss of 1,200 jobs.

Production at plants in Carlton, Nottinghamshire, and Scunthorpe will stop in September.

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), April 20, 2001