400 Nortel Enterprise Employees May Face Lay-Offs

Telecom News Editorials Reports Glossary

4:38 pm on September 17, 2009 | Category: Business, Corporate

Up to 400 Nortel employees may be laid off after Avaya takes control of the bankrupt company’s enterprise networking division, according to a report by The Canadian Press earlier today.

The enterprise unit is centered in Ottawa and Belleville, Ontario, and has a small presence in Toronto. It currently employs approximately 1,000 people in these locations.

Avaya, which is acquiring the Nortel division for $915 million, wouldn’t comment directly on reports that 40% of workers would be fired, but did express a desire for “minimal employee disruption.”

“We are committed to retaining as many jobs as possible and expect to retain a substantial number of employees and maintain the research facilities in Carling [in Ottawa] and Belleville,” commented Avaya spokesman, Gerard Carney.