WRAL Tech Wire

 BlackBerry maker RIM is making 'significant' layoffs

Research In Motion, which maintains research and development operations in the Triangle, is making job cuts as part of a $1 billion restructuring plan.

 Quintiles lays off 'fewer than 40' in Triangle

The life science services company cuts some 40 jobs in RTP and a "very small" number across its global operations, a company spokesperson says.

 'Trying to survive:' Nokia to slash 10,000 jobs

The Finland-based mobile phone manufacturer is forced to reduce costs or risk going out of business in as little as two years, a London-based analyst says.

 Job cuts surge 67% in May; computer firms set pace

North Carolina companies cut 2,156 jobs in May. So far this year, the state ranks fourth highest with 15,958 layoffs. Since Jan. 1, employers have announced 245,540 reductions, 20 percent more than a year earlier, says Chicago firm that tracks employment trends.

 30,000 workers could be cut at HP, reports say

Hewlett-Packard Co. is considering cutting as many as 25,000 jobs, or 8 percent of its workforce, to reduce costs and help the company contend with ebbing demand for computers and services, people briefed on the plans tell Bloomberg news. The Wall Street Journal reports an even bigger number.

 IBM offers early retirement package, protection from layoffs

An internal IBM memo leaked Tuesday outlines plans to offer an early retirement package to U.S. employees that offers those who accept by the end of next year protection from layoffs. IBM confirms the plan, offers specific details about what is being offered.

 UNC, NCSU's DeSimone, Duke professor elected to National Academy of Sciences

Dr. Joseph DeSimone, a professor at UNC-CH and NCSU as well as an inventor and entrepreneur, and Duke's Dr. Xinnian Dong receive one of top honors for scientists.

 IBM: Retirement plan aims to help workers and Big Blue

In an interview, IBM's director of corporate communications says the tech giant wants to help employees who are considering retirement and at the same time provide the company a "predictive forecasting capability" it currently lacks to enable IBM to better plan for the transition of losing veteran employees.

 IBM early retirement plan protects takers from layoffs

An internal IBM memo leaked Tuesday outlines plans to offer an early retirement package to U.S. employees that offers those who accept by the end of next year protection from layoffs.

 Look for IBM to use 'point of sale' deal to fund more job cuts

Not only are hundreds of IBMers in the Triangle area to be transferred to Toshiba as part of the "point of sale" deal, the profits will be used to fund what Big Blue's CFO describes as "workforce transformation and productivity initiatives."

 Raleigh lab testing firm being sold; 140 people to lose jobs

Millennium Laboratory, which is based in North Raleigh, is being acquired by another company. The deal is expected to close this week. As a result 140 people are being let go, the company says.

 Big tech companies are hiring - but primarily overseas

As unemployment remains stubbornly high in North Carolina and the U.S., a Wall Street Journal study finds that 35 large international firms, including Cisco and Dell, are hiring. But nearly three quarters of the new positions are overseas.

New jobs

 Cary-based Connexion Technologies declares bankruptcy

The company, which also operates under the name Capitol infrastructure, recently laid off two thirds of its employees. It also faces a wrongful termination lawsuit.

 Cary-based Connexion Technologies files for bankruptcy

The company, which also operates under the name Capitol infrastructure and is led by former Cary Mayor Glen Lang, recently laid off two thirds of its employees.

 IBMers lack 'intestinal fortitude' to picket?

Lack of suport for Alliance@IBM protests ignites some anger and frustration at union's website. Even a media outlet wants more Big Blue workers to speak out.

Layoffs people

 Union head a 'lonely voice' in picketing shrinking IBM campus

However, Lee Conrad, a long-time IBM employee who quit to try to organize a union to represent Big Blue workers, says his trip to RTP was a victory because he helped raise awareness of job cuts and off-shoring.

Lee Conrad protests job cuts at IBM

 Drug firm Targacept to slash 46% of work force

The Winston-Salem based firm is slashing its workforce by nearly half, part of a restructuring plan that comes one month after its lead drug candidate, a depression drug, failed the last of a series of phase 3 clinical trials.

Targacept's Headquarters

 CEO: RTP firm's nanotechnology will revolutionize medicine - and more

At Nanotech Commercialization Conference in Durham, Liquidia CEO Neal Fowler says his firm's technology will first change medicine and then materials science.

Nano particles at Liquidia.

 Scale of iContact layoffs 'pretty shocking' to former chairman

Aaron Houghton, who stepped down as chairman of iContact last month when the company was acquired by Vocus, did not expect Vocus to cut a third of the iContact work force in Morrisville. "It's fair to say that my understanding was different about what would happen," Houghton says.

iContact's new Morrisville headquarters

 More layoffs announced at Cary communications firm Connexion

Connexion Technologies, a provider of communications technology for residential communities across much of the nationwide, is going through its second round of layoffs this year.