Goodyear makes limited progress in Amiens talks
ERJ staff report (DS)
Amiens, France -- Goodyear has announced a provisional plan to cut 402 jobs at its site in Amiens, France. However, the company said it hopes to negotiate a settlement in which these cuts will not be necessary.
Goodyear has said that its two factories at Amiens are not competitive. The plant to the south was previously a Dunlop site; the more northerly unit has always been a Goodyear operation. They are adjacent and together employ some 2700 people altogether, with 1400 at the north site and 1300 at the former Dunlop site. Both make tyres for the consumer sector.
Goodyear initially offered a package of investment and job security in exchange for longer working hours a year ago and has slightly modified that more recently, The workers at the Amiens-South unit have accepted the package, while the Goodyear employees at Amiens-North have not.
Goodyear has said it wants to upgrade the site with a total investment package of Euro 52 million. This would re-organise the two factories to make one integrated manufacturing unit and upgrade the equipment permitting the plants to make higher performance tyres, which are more profitable. In exchange, Goodyear wants the workers to sign new contracts which involve longer working hours. Together, Goodyear believes these measures will make the plant viable.Â
In the latest proposal, Goodyear said it would cut employment at the Amiens-North site by 402 and reduce output by 38 percent. However, a spokesman added, "In the meantime even at this late stage we hope the situation can be resolved." The spokesman said the final plan will be announced on 13 May.
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