Restructuring events
European Restructuring Monitor (ERM)
The restructuring events database contains factsheets with data on large-scale restructuring events reported in the principal national media and company websites in each EU Member State. This database was created in 2002.
Fjord Line operates a fleet of modern cruise ferries connecting Western Norway to Great Britain and mainland Europe. Their head office is in Bergen and the company have today about 300 employees and three ships offering transportation for passengers, cars and freight.
At the beginning of September 2006, the company announced a cut of 20 land based employees which caused unrest amongst employees. However, a press conference was held on 6 September 2006, a day after a Board meeting, where it was announced that the ship M/S Fjord Norway was going to be sold to the Danish ferry line DFDS. All 248 employees on board are to lose their jobs immediately. After this sale the Fjord Line will only keep some shore based staff. Their other ships run with hired crews.
The background is a long period with bad economic results and stronger competition the last year from other ferry lines. Two years ago the company employed more than 500 people. The buyer of the ship, DFDS, announced at the same press conference on 6 September 2006 that they had bought a ship, not a crew, meaning that they planned to replace the Norwegian crew with Danish employees.
The local representative of Norwegian Seamen's Union, representing 160 of the employees, expressed anger to the newspapers, saying that it would be better if the company went bankrupt.
Eurofound (2006), Fjord Line, Internal restructuring in Norway, factsheet number 64049, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://dev.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/64049.
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