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.
Transportation / Storage Land, Water And Air Transportation Water Transport 50.1 - Sea and coastal passenger water transport
880 jobs Number of planned job losses
Announcement Date
10 January 2012
Employment effect (start)
24 January 2012
Foreseen end date
31 January 2012
Description
On 9 January, ferry company SeaFrance went into liquidation leading to the loss of 880 jobs in France. 127 jobs in Dover, UK, will also be lost.
Some reallocation of staff whose jobs are at risk may be possible. French rail operator SNCF, owner of SeaFrance, aims to find jobs for employees who are laid off. French Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing Nathalie Kociusko-Morizet stated that the shipping firm Louis Dreyfus Armateurs has offered to employ 300 former SeaFrance staff members, in order to keep the Calais-Dover ferry route running. Nevertheless the 880 employees will receive layoff notice within the next 15 days.
The company's service between Dover and Calais has been suspended since November 2011. A potential bailout from the French government was ruled illegal by the European Commission; an offer from a cooperative of SeaFrance employees was also deemed unacceptable by the French Tribunal de Commerce. The possibility that Eurotunnel, the company which manages and operates the Channel Tunnel between Britain and France, will make a bid for SeaFrance has not been ruled out yet.
UPDATE, 25/01/2012 - On 25 January the liquidator sent out 510 dismissal letters. Until now, 15 employees of Seafrance have accepted a job in the SNCF group. 150 employees are protected against dismissal as they are employee's representatives (and can't be dismiss yet) and 150 are still working in the context of the liquidation.
UPDATE, 18/02/2012 - On 17 February 2012 LD Lines (Louis-Dreyfus Armateurs) took over the Calais to Dover ferry service from SeaFrance, which is in liquidation. According to the management they took on 115 former SeaFrance employees, but the SeaFrance liquidator claims that only 35 employees were recruited by LD Lines.
Sources
9 January 2012: Reuters
18 February 2012: La Voix du Nord
10 January 2012: Les Echos
9 January 2012: BBC News Website
Citation
Eurofound (2012), Seafrance, Bankruptcy in France, factsheet number 72935, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/72935.
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