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.
On 14 April 2010, the majority US-owned office furniture company Steelcase announced it would close its factory at Marlenheim in Alsace which employs 202 workers. Facing a new deterioration in its core market, Steelcase presented a closure plan to its work council envisaging the transfer of 97 jobs from Marlenheim to Wisches (17 km far from Marlenheim) and the establishment of a public transport link. In addition, four other positions will be offered in Wisches, 27 in Sarrebourg (Moselle) and 18 in German units. If this geographical mobility is accepted - previous similar offers have had very limited take-up - the number of compulsory redundancies would fall to 57. On 28 April, 200 workers of Steelcase demonstrated against the closure decision.
Unions have regretted the fact that management has decided not to have recourse to alternative labour adjustment measures such as temporary unemployment (chomage partiel), working time flexibility or measures for the training of staff during the crisis funded by regional authorities.
Eurofound (2010), Steelcase, Closure in France, factsheet number 70610, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/70610.