Published: Monday, 30th March, 2009 4:30pm

Fury at Nortel job cuts

POLICE were called to Nortel telecommunications HQ in Maidenhead this morning after angry staff protested at job cuts. (Monday, March 30)

When staff heard the news that their contracts had been ended, a group of around 60 workers refused to leave the building. Members of Maidenhead's Neighbourhood Police Team were sent to the scene to liaise with staff.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "We received a call at about 11.50am regarding an internal matter at Nortel. However, there was no incident of public disorder taking place and therefore no police action was required."

The job cuts at the Westacott Way site are part of 228 job losses throughout the UK.

Distraught staff were told of the decision at a meeting.

Jon Belassie who has worked at the company for eight years said: "I think everyone knew redundancies were coming but it the way the company did it. A lot of people are shocked and angry. I will need to find a new job pretty quickly and will be joining a lot of others at the job centre."

A spokeswoman for Nortel said: "As part of Nortel's global restructuring announcement, I can confirm that 220 employees have today been made redundant in the UK. Nortel currently employs 2,000 employees across five offices in Maidenhead, Harlow, Monkstown, London and Bracknell.

"Our Maidenhead, Berkshire site remains our European headquarters.The 220 positions represent approximately 11per cent of Nortel's total UK workforce."In January this year the UK arm of Nortel announced it was going into voluntary administration."