Nokia revises its French social plan downwards

Nokia employees in the street against the company's social plan, in Paris on October 7, 2020. REUTERS / Benoit Tessier

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Four months after announcing its social plan, the Finnish telecom equipment manufacturer announced on Friday October 23 that it had agreed to save 247 jobs out of the 1,233 it was initially supposed to eliminate in its French subsidiary Alcatel-Lucent.

The unions take note, but continue their fight.

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For four months,

the French employees of Nokia have refused this social plan

, especially as the Finnish group has received aid from the French state.

After several years of difficulties and

three social plans in four years

, Nokia regained balance last year and recorded a net profit of 94 million euros in the second quarter of 2020.

The announcement four months ago of the elimination of 1,233 positions had then aroused the anger of the unions, but also of several politicians and local elected officials.

Then qualified by the government " 

unacceptable as it stands

 ", it was the fourth social plan since

the acquisition in 2016 of Alcatel-Lucent by the Finnish group

.

At the end of a Social and Economic Committee Friday 23 October, the management agreed to save 247 jobs, including 167 on the Breton site, while 402 jobs were threatened.

On the Ile-de-France site, only 83 jobs will be preserved and 713 others must disappear.

"The account is not there"

The group's management justifies its turnaround by changing needs, in particular with

new projects in the 5G sector

.

Nokia is also planning to open a new European cybersecurity center in Lannion, in particular with the help of the State.

This should allow the group to create 112 jobs in France, including 97 in Lannion " 

by the end of 2021

 ", the company said in a press release on Friday.

The government immediately welcomed the initiative which it describes as positive, while the CFDT representative called for caution and that of the CGT declared that " 

the account is not there

 ": because in total 900 jobs remain threatened. .

Nokia had announced this social plan as part of its cost hunt.

For several years, the Finnish giant has wanted to overcome see-saw results and

thus overtake the Chinese Huawei in the sector

.

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