Rockwell Reportedly May Cut 4,800 Jobs

Rockwell International Corp., the world’s largest maker of computer modem semiconductors, reportedly may cut up to 4,800 jobs because of slumping demand for its chips and slowing sales in its industrial-automation business. The job cuts, which could affect up to 10% of Rockwell’s 48,000 employees, was first reported in the Wall Street Journal, which cited unidentified people close to the company. Terry Francisco, a spokesman for the Costa Mesa-based electronics giant, declined to comment. Rockwell has about 5,000 employees in Southern California, including 2,500 at its semiconductor systems division in Newport Beach, 150 at its Costa Mesa headquarters and another 100 at its corporate offices in Seal Beach. It also has about 1,000 workers at its Collins avionics plant in Pomona and 400 at a research and development facility in Thousand Oaks. The semiconductor unit also has 600 employees in San Diego and 200 in Newbury Park. Rockwell has undergone a major restructuring in the past few years, selling off its aerospace business and auto-parts businesses to focus on making modem chip sets and other electronic gear. Rockwell shares fell 50 cents to $48.44 on the New York Stock Exchange.