Nortel and JDS cut jobs in DevonSteve BushThe south west is suffering as both Nortel Networks and JDS Uniphase cut jobs in Devon.
Nortel is dropping around 750 at its Paignton plant. The workers are "in a variety of rolls within our optical components division," said a Nortel spokesman.
Nortel blames the US market. "What we are seeing is a slow-down in the US technology economy. Paignton sells to global customers," he explained, adding: "There will still be over 3,000 workers left at the plant."
Fibre-optic components supplier JDS is reported to be cutting between upwards of 170, possibly over 400, jobs in Plymouth and possibly Torquay. Its UK cut-backs are also reported to be badly affecting its factories at Oxford, Bracknell and Hill End.
JDS was tight-lipped as Electronics Weekly went to press and no one was available for comment from the company.
Reports suggest JDS is to remove 5,000 workers from its payroll worldwide, a fifth of its workforce.