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.
Royal Dutch Shell, the multinational producer of oil and gas, has announced that it is to cut 180 jobs at its headquarters in Aberdeen. The job losses will affect office based staff, and will be implemented by April 2011. Management at the group attributed the job losses to market pressures and the need for the group to remain competitive, and stated that the job losses would help ‘secure its long-term competitive future in the UK’. John Gallagher, the Technical vice president of Shell stated:
‘The organizational changes announced will better position Shell to focus on our strengths… We will bring our advanced technology into play and better deliver competitive projects in the North Sea that we are just bringing on stream.’
The firm also stated that it was ‘committed to minimizing the number of compulsory redundancies’.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen, the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Aberdeen South, stated:
‘This will cause considerable concern among the individuals and families affected. It's disappointing that this is happening at a time when the oil price is so strong… I will be writing to Shell to urge that compulsory redundancies are avoided.’
Graham Tran, a representative of the Unite Amicus union, also expressed concern that compulsory redundancies would be avoided by the firm.
Shell employs 112,000 globally. There is no information on the number employed at the Aberdeen site.
Eurofound (2008), Royal Dutch Shell, Internal restructuring in United Kingdom, factsheet number 66569, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/66569.