Alcatel-Lucent looks to shed 5,490 jobs

Alcatel-Lucent is to cut 5,490 jobs worldwide as part of its cost-saving efforts first outlined in July, according to the CFDT union.

Reuters reports that the union, which represents more than 15 per cent of the company’s 9,000 staff in France, has called on the French government to intervene with 1,430 of the jobs due to go in the vendor’s home country.

CFDT – which called the move a "human and industrial catastrophe" – said the majority of the jobs would go in support functions such as sales, marketing, finance and human resources. Around 3,300 jobs will go in Europe, the Middle-East and Africa, 1,200 in the Americas and 990 in Asia Pacific.

The infrastructure vendor has been hit by weak demand and increased competition and also plans to exit unprofitable markets and contracts in an effort to turn its fortunes around.

The company announced it would cut its global workforce by “around 5,000” in July as it looks to reduce its cost base by around US$2 billion. The company employs around 76,000 people globally, according to Reuters.