The estimated number of casualties from Monday's layoff at IBM has risen to 1,440 and is likely to be close to the final tally, according to a labor union that is trying to organize IBM's workers.

"This is a big one," said union organizer Lee Conrad in New York. "It's close to the final number."

Conrad said that a half-dozen anonymous emails from IBM's site in Research Triangle Park indicates that North Carolina was not spared in this round of layoffs.

The Alliance@IBM began reporting IBM's layoffs on Monday as reports began coming in from affected workers. The Alliance was able to estimate the layoff totals because affected workers receive notices disclosing how many workers in their units were let go and how many spared.

The organization's web site lists 20 business units in North America affected by the layoffs.

The Alliance, a part of the Communications Workers of America, expects another round of layoffs at IBM this month, based on intelligence from IBM employees.