3M cutting 1,800 jobs around world in 4th quarter

MINNEAPOLIS - 3M Co. is cutting 1,800 jobs in the fourth quarter and ordering some workers to take vacation or unpaid time off for the last two weeks of the year.

3M spokeswoman Jackie Berry told the Star Tribune for a story posted Friday night that the worsening economy forced the cuts. She told the newspaper she didn't have a dollar amount on how much the company expects to save. The company is also postponing merit pay for next year, she said.

The Maplewood-based manufacturer had earlier announced 1,000 job cuts in the third quarter, which ended Sept. 30. The 1,800 new layoffs will come from the U.S., Western Europe and other developed nations.

Berry didn't say where specific cuts would be made, but told the Star Tribune "several hundred" will be in the United States.

Berry and other 3M spokespeople did not immediately return phone messages left by The Associated Press.

Along with the job cuts, 3M is pushing hundreds of workers to take vacation or unpaid time off for one to two weeks this month, the newspaper reported.

Berry said merit pay is normally distributed annually in April.

"What we have done is delay that merit increase," she said. "It's not part of the 2009 plan. However, that could change if the economic conditions are better than expected."

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Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com

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