BBC

Friday, 7 September, 2001, 05:12 GMT 06:12 UK Motorola cuts more jobs Motorola's Bathgate plant was shut in the last round of cuts

Motorola has warned of a further sales slide and slashed 2,000 jobs as the global downturn continues to depress the telecoms industry.

The company would not confirm where the jobs would be cut, but operations in the UK, Ireland, US, Canada, Brazil, Israel, China, Japan and India were all susceptible, a spokesperson said.

The latest round of cuts will be made at the company's wireless infrastructure units by the end of the year, bringing the total number of job losses to 32,000, or 21.8% of its total workforce at the end of 2000.

Motorola said weaker-than-expected demand for its products meant sales were flat in the third quarter rather than growing 5% from the previous quarter.

More UK cuts?

Plants in the UK and Ireland "aren't immune" from the cutbacks, a spokesman for the company warned.

The latest job losses come just months after 3,000 staff lost their jobs when the firm closed its Bathgate plant in West Lothian, Scotland.

Motorola's announcement follows warnings by Swedish rival Ericsson and French Telecom equipment maker Alcatel.

Ericsson, the world's largest wireless infrastructure firm and third biggest mobile phone maker, said on Tuesday a recovery in the telecoms industry was unlikely until after next year, kicking off a share selling spree.

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2001