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.
The technology and services company Itron is to cut about 124 positions at its site of Chasseneuil-du-Poitou (Vienne), which employs 277 people and produces a new generation of “intelligent” electricity meters. The job cuts will mainly affect the R&D department with 66 job cuts on a total of 89 employees.
The reorganisation is part of a worldwide restructuring of the electricity activities of Itron. According to the management, the reorganisation in France could result in 137 job cuts including 124 in Chasseneuil (out of a total of 1,100employees in France) .
This is the fifth social plan since 1998. Since the announcement, the employees have launched industrial dispute with site blockage. A mediator has been nominated. On 12 May, the management agreed to reduce the number of dismissals form 137 to 89. In an interview, the CEO of Itron France explains that the new generation of electric meter production will be allocated to the site of Chasseneuil, but the production of industrial electrical meter will be delocalised to Hungary where labour costs are cheaper.
UPDATE 25-06-2015: social partners have reached an agreement on a social plan reducing the number of job cuts from 124 to 87. The US management has agreed to avoid the offshoring/delocalisation of production to Hungary. The negotiation has also resulted in the extension of some social measures to support redundant employees looking for a new job.
Eurofound (2015), Itron, Internal restructuring in France, factsheet number 83584, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://dev.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/83584.