Layoffs continue at Nortel facilities in Ottawa and Belleville as Avaya moves a big step closer to closing its $915-million purchase of the company's Enterprise unit.
Both the U.S. and Canadian governments have given the green light to the deal as of late Wednesday. That means the deal should officially close in about three weeks.
Nortel's Enterprise unit employed about 1,000 people between the two eastern Ontario centres, only months ago. It is believed that number is now down to about 650 and will drop some more.
When Avaya, a U.S. based company, won the bidding process for the Enterprise unit, the company indicated that it planned to reduce the North American workforce by about 40 per cent. Nortel has been making the reductions.
CTV Ottawa learned some layoffs happened as recently as last week. With Nortel taking the layoff action, that means those who are let go do not get any severance pay.
Avaya included $15 million in its winning bid to help retain workers; they have not explained how that money will be spent.
The other major centre for the Enterprise unit is located in Raleigh, N.C.
