DALLAS, April 4 – Citing the US economic slowdown and reduced customer spending, Paris-based telecom manufacturer Alcatel has decided to trim its overall US operating budget. The move includes cutting about 1100 positions in the US, which is about 5 percent of the company's US workforce. Employees affected by the reduction will receive a severance package and outplacement services. "It is important, during these tough economic times in the US, for us to manage down our cost structure better than ever before," said Mike Quigley, president of Alcatel Americas. "These types of employee impacting decisions are very difficult to make, but they are essential given the current US business environment."