(Associated Press via NewsEdge) Alcatel-Lucent said its industrial restructuring plan will not include compulsory layoffs in France.
The company earlier this month announced the elimination of 1,468 positions in the country by the end of 2008, but it said in a statement it had assured French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin that the cuts would not take the form of compulsory layoffs.
In its statement, Alcatel-Lucent also said it has convened a meeting of its European works council to discuss to concerns about the plan raised by employee representatives at meeting last weekend. The meeting is to be held on March 16, it said.
Earlier this month, Alcatel-Lucent posted a $803 million loss for the fourth quarter amid tougher-than-expected market conditions, particularly in North America, and merger-related uncertainty among customers.
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