Alcatel cuts more jobs

During the next eight months, Alcatel will cut 1500 U.S. jobs--about 12.5% of its U.S. work force--as a result of weak demand for phone equipment. Alcatel reported a $621 million loss for the third quarter, the company’s first loss since 1995.

In total, Alcatel has cut about 34,500 jobs this year, bringing the number of employees worldwide to 75,500 from 110,000.

Of the 1500 job cuts most recently announced, about 650 will be from its U.S. headquarters in Plano, Texas. Twelve thousand people in the United States work for the French telecom equipment supplier.

--Amalia D. Parthenios, staff writer