Alcatel-Lucent which managed to post its first ever profit since the alliance came into being in 2006, is reportedly planning to cut one-sixth of its 26,000 work force in the European contingent.

Following the plans, 1,374 employees in France, 773 in Germany and 564 in Romania will lose job.

"Compared with end-2008, in 2009-2010 one employee in six in Europe will be gone," said Saint-Aubain , a union spokesperson.

"More than 4,500 jobs will be cut or outsourced," he said, adding that workers were already being let go in several countries such as Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands.

"In the other countries where the cuts are larger, like France, that will take longer," he said. "Europe is paying a very heavy price, accounting for about half of all the job cuts (at the group) even though it accounts for only a third of sales."