Canadian Manufacturing

Blackberry lays off 250 at testing facility

by The Canadian Press   

Canadian Manufacturing
Manufacturing Blackberry smartphone tablet Thorsten Heins Waterloo


BlackBerry is in the midst of trying to recover a stronger position in the highly competitive smartphone market with its new line of phones and operating system.

TORONTO—Smartphone and tablet maker BlackBerry in Waterloo, Ont., has laid off 250 workers in its new product testing facility, CTV News reported Wednesday night.

The employees, who supported the company’s manufacturing, research and development efforts, were apparently given notice on Tuesday.

BlackBerry is in the midst of trying to recover a stronger position in the highly competitive smartphone market with its new line of phones and operating system.

About 5,000 employees were laid off last year in restructuring efforts.

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At the company’s annual general meeting earlier this month, CEO Thorsten Heins told shareholders that BlackBerry is in the midst of a “complex transition.”

He encouraged investors to remain patient while the company navigates its plan to become profitable again.

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