STAFF at telecommunication giant Motorolas' two remaining sites in Swindon were called to meetings yesterday to be told consultation processes were being opened over possible further job losses.
This followed the recent announcement that the company was planning to cut another 7,000 jobs worldwide, 3,000 of them in the GTS division, of which most of the 2,000 employees at the Europark headquarters in Blagrove and at the Groundwell site belong.
Motorola spokesman Mark Durrant told the Evening Advert-iser that no decisions had been made on numbers. These would emerge as talks went on.
"Swindon remains a very important centre of operations to us and I would emphasise that we have no intention of leaving the town," he said, adding: "At present we are converting former production area space at Groundwell to accommodate staff who are moving from other sites that we have closed.
"While Motorola does have planning permission to enlarge the Groundwell site, we see no need to exercise the this option at present.
"More immediately our real concern is for the welfare of our employees. We have a clear strategy which is working. At present business is fairly flat but we expect to see things picking up in 2005 and we must make sure we are in a position to take advantage of that."
Mr Durrant's cautious optimism about the future follows Wednes-day's news that Motorola had recorded its biggest ever quarterly loss, but still insisted that it was on course for a return to profitability by the end of the year.
The world's largest mobile phone manufacturer took analysts by surprise by posting a $48 million profit before exceptionals, avoiding a predicted sixth quarterly loss and confounding critics.
But the one-off items, many tied to the company's massive restructuring programme, brought a massive $2.3 billion loss, this comparing with $759 million for the same quarter last time.
Last month the firm announced it was to cut another 7,000 jobs worldwide, 3,000 of these from its GTS division.
It said that workforce reductions would start immediately and continue through to next year in order for the division to break-even.
Yesterday, just 48 hours later, the consultation period over more job losses began.
With the new cuts, Motorola's global 150,000 workforce of two years ago will be reduced to 93,000.
Meanwhile, Motorola has been upbeat about the latest quarter figures seeing a clear signs of recovery ahead of schedule.
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