France
Action
In Illkirch / Strasbourg (Eastern France), there were about 110 people from A-Lu Enterprise in front of the European Parliament. They had all the logo from the union. A delegation was received by a European civil servant, and submitted a copy of all the flyer of each country, and also the ECID declaration for European lobbying. There were a lot of television and press people. Very good coverage.
In Paris, 600 people from Colombes, Eu, Meudon (Alcanet), Ormes, Vélizy, Villarceaux made a demonstration in front of ARCEP (the telecom regulator) with good national press coverage. ARCEP President will receive a Union delegation on November 13th
In Rennes (Western France), 500 people from Brest, Lannion, Orvault gathered in front of “the House of Europe” and inaugurated the “Place of Europe of Telecommunications” with good regional press coverage.
Additionally, a short ECID message was quoted during a meeting on ICT in Stockholm between EU commission and EU Parliament Industry Committee.
Restructurations
RFS: no change in Management plan to close the antenna manufacturing plant in Lannion with 53 job suppressions. Early retirement package or transfer to other A-Lu units proposed to most staff. Staff has made proposals to extend the activity.
Alcanet: the outsourcing deal with HP is on. No progress on discussions between Management and Unions. Unions ask for a longer job guarantee (more than 18 months) in HP, a better transfer package and special attention to some individual cases. Only this last point is accepted.
Alcatel-Lucent France: an agreement on method and schedule was signed on November 12th by Management and Unions. Job suppressions reduced from 728 to 569, including 200 due to the closure of Eu PCB manufacturing plant. Difference is mostly due to in-sourcing of subcontractors jobs. First phase until mid 2010 will be based on voluntary retirement. If figure not reached, forced retirement may then apply. People will have leaft A-Lu starting mid Q1 until end of 2010 (2011 for Eu). For “mature R&D”, deal with Wipro was signed on November 5th. A-Lu staff have the choice not to join Wipro (package not known yet) but their job will be suppressed anyway. So they can apply for voluntary retirement or try to catch one newly in-sourced job. New meetings planed.
Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise: 72 job suppressions confirmed. Unions try to get the same conditions as A-Lu France and to include people who have already left in the suppression total.
Germany
Action
Actions(manifestations and demonstrations) in Stuttgart (nearly 600), Nuremberg (ca. 250), Berlin and Hannover. Altogether nearly 1000 colleagues.
There was a resolution of the workforce of Stuttgart and Nuremberg and a collection of signatures from the colleagues of MGC12/S12 (all 70 from Stuttgart).
A delegation of Stuttgart’s workforce handed out in the “Supervisory Board meeting” the Stuttgart-resolutions.
The press in Germany is informed. The next step is to inform and appeal to the politicians.
Restructurations
New bad information: in the next days Bonndorf will be sold and for RFS-worldwide(Hannover: over 300 colleagues) a buyer is searched.
Negotiation between Management and Unions on the rest of the plan ongoing.
Italy
Action
They organized the same actions in all ALU plants for a national visibility with the press conference (TV, media, national and local news papers). They invited the members of Italian Parliament elected in the provinces and regions, the Institutes local and region, and the members of political parties.
Restructurations
ALU Italy: in the consultation/negotiation phase for the lay-off (60 employees) and temporary suspension of employees (80-90 employees). For the two points we can use Italian social instruments: Mobilità and Cassa Integrazione. Now, with a lot of difficult and after the 11th November meeting, we are discussing with management the way, the salary integration, etc. A next meeting will scheduled the 19th November in Rome (Labour Ministry).These instruments will be use at the end of this year and next year
In additional in ALU Vimercate we are in consultation phase about Alcanet and IS/IT co-sourcing (total 5+2 employees involve). The problem for this co-sourcing is that HP Italy and ALU Italy want close the operation the 30 November, but a lot of problems are still open: the first one and the most important is that in Italy for a company with only 7 employees there aren’t possible to use in the future the social instruments, there aren’t a work laws, etc.
Battipaglia: a next meeting will be scheduled the next 17th November in Rome (Industry Ministry). The problem is that the Italian government hasn’t a solution and in additional cut the funds for “digital divided”.
Romania
Action
200 people demonstrated in front of A-Lu main building with good press coverage
Restructuration
Wipro outsourcing plan is in force. The Wipro Worldwide “co-sourcing” plan was announced on November 5th). A meeting to present it with Wipro participation was calle don November 11th, but staff boycotted the meeting
Slovakia
Action
Solidarity message sent by ECID delegate.
Restructuration
Several people were forced to leave, many subcontractors and some top management also left this year.
Bad situation in R&D caused also by wrong management decisions couple of years ago. To be more precise, this refers to discontinuation of in-house GGSN product and nearly the same for in-house SGSN product. Now they are not able to answer market high demand for GGSN and “MME ready” SGSN They have to reach targets which normally should be planned and done in years with much less people in very short timeframe. This means systematic over-time job which is nearly not honored.
Spain
Action
Distribution of the action press release, but without the call to participate November 10th action as an agreement had just been reached with Management (see below)
Restructuration
An agreement was signed by the company and most employee representatives (November 6th and 10th). Main info is that the layoff number was reduced from 156 to 108. The company says it’s making an extra effort to cut costs in other places. But implementation only until December 31st 2009. Acceptable social conditions for employees leaving the company (money, acceptance of volunteers, commitment to minimize the social impact by the company).
USA
Action:
A flyer was distributed by Communications Workers of America focussing on their own issues with a solidarity demonstration to european workers: installers in Georgia and at the last (of 3) Alcatel-Lucent Laboratory location in New Jersey, at Murray Hill. There was also picketing at a Labs location in Naperville, Illinois.
Others
Belgium: the restructuration plan was completed on October 31st
