In France the site of AIX is indeed fragile

Almost a year after the resumption with Schneider Electric subsidiary of transmission and distribution (T & D) of Areva, Alstom is forced to adjust its cost. The group chaired by Patrick Kron won't make waves around this activity, bought for more than 3 billion euros at the end of a controversial call for tenders. He welcomed the dynamism of electric equipment, including the development of renewable energies and the electricity demand in emerging countries. Quarterly figures, published tomorrow, should confirm this trend. This close the division "grid" - which resumed transmission of Areva - fact formidable Asian competition activities on certain product lines.

This is the case of gas-insulated substations (GIS), representing 640 million of income over 3.5 billion of the division, and 10 of its 20,000 employees. After record growth, the time is to tightening the bolts. Without noise, the division removed last summer in its Swiss factory in Oberentfelden 170 positions on 400. In France, it has just signed an agreement in time on the site of 800 employees of AIX, in Savoy, which had doubled its workforce between 2006 and 2008. Trade unions have launched a procedure of alert for this plant, as well as le Petit-Quevilly, Seine-Maritime. It is also two sites of Schneider. "We feared a savings plan, says Alain Nagel, central steward CGT in Alstom Grid, for which the concern already existed before the assignment. Expected next March budget announcements.

The division has already disclosed on two projects. The first, called "Spark", focuses on the performance and strategy with the aim of closer to clients including. The second project, "Gain", is inherited from the parent and is 20 savings in administrative costs and trade and the external costs, is 130 million euros by 2012. Difficult to predict the impact in terms of personnel in this division, which includes 3.200 employees in France in total. The European works councils were to approach the topic yesterday.

The direction made no connection with the project for the removal of 4,000 positions on 49,000 in the Power division. "In Alstom Grid, the commands are in line with the business plan, said a relative of Patrick Kron. Our concern is to reduce competitiveness with competitors Siemens or ABB delta. In Power, orders fell.

Remains whether Alstom will meet the commitment to end 2009 with Schneider to the European Federation of Metalworkers. It excludes any plant closure and Europe all collective departure other than voluntary by early 2013 - "unless significant deterioration in economic conditions". "". This is the direction that judge if this situation exists, said Michel Lemoine, central steward CFDT. We do not put in this perspective.

In Switzerland, the Group convinced the unions to accept a derogation to this commitment. In France, the site of AIX is indeed fragile. "Orders of GIS have dropped by 30 in one year and 50 in two years, reflects Michel Lemoine, referring to a comparable to le Petit-Quevilly trend.". With prices up to 20 less, our Korean competitors make lot of evil. "Others refer to quality problems.

To make matters worse, the Chinese Xian or TBEA, hitherto mainly active on their domestic market, leave to conquer foreign markets. "Customers who purchased mainly in Siemens, ABB and Alstom are beginning to be receptive, especially in the Middle East," recognizes a manager.