Another round of high-tech layoffs has hit Calgary, with U.S.-based Solectron Corp. announcing it is pulling the plug on its local electronics manufacturing facility and shedding almost 500 workers.
The company informed workers here last week that staff reductions would occur in stages over the coming months as production is transferred to other facilities, and that its Calgary shop would be closed down by the end of September as part of company-wide restructuring.
Officials say the move isn’t a reflection on the performance of employees in Calgary.
“This was an extremely difficult decision, and made only after careful evaluation and analysis,” said Massued Behrouzi, Solectron’s senior vice-president and president, North America.
“Unfortunately, this is part of a broader effort to locate our capabilities and capacity around the world to best meet changing market conditions and the changing needs of our customers.”
An estimated 490 workers will be affected, and will receive severance packages and outplacement assistance.
The Calgary plant manufactured printed circuit board assembly and other services for telecommunications and computer equipment.
The announcement follows by just a few months the closing of a $13-million Panasonic wireless design centre in Calgary, which threw more than 40 employees out of work.
Many of the engineers at the electronics giant, part of Tokyo-based Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., found other work in Calgary’s high-tech sector.
05/02/02 Solectron pulls plug on Calgary operations Business Edge U.S.-based firm to lose almost 500 workers
Another round of high-tech layoffs has hit Calgary, with U.S.-based Solectron Corp. announcing it is pulling the plug on its local electronics manufacturing facility and shedding almost 500 workers.
The company informed workers here last week that staff reductions would occur in stages over the coming months as production is transferred to other facilities, and that its Calgary shop would be closed down by the end of September as part of company-wide restructuring.
Officials say the move isn’t a reflection on the performance of employees in Calgary.
“This was an extremely difficult decision, and made only after careful evaluation and analysis,” said Massued Behrouzi, Solectron’s senior vice-president and president, North America.
“Unfortunately, this is part of a broader effort to locate our capabilities and capacity around the world to best meet changing market conditions and the changing needs of our customers.”
An estimated 490 workers will be affected, and will receive severance packages and outplacement assistance.
The Calgary plant manufactured printed circuit board assembly and other services for telecommunications and computer equipment.
The announcement follows by just a few months the closing of a $13-million Panasonic wireless design centre in Calgary, which threw more than 40 employees out of work.
Many of the engineers at the electronics giant, part of Tokyo-based Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., found other work in Calgary’s high-tech sector.
