10 October 2005
Amicus, the trade union representing the majority of employees at Marconi, is pressing the company for assurances in any possible sale or takeover.
In a letter sent to Marconi Chief Executive Mike Parton today, Amicus together with TGWU and the GMB have stated that any future purchaser should provide commitments on:
- Job security for the Marconi workforce
- Retention of high-tech skills in the UK and Europe
- Continuing Investment in R&D in the UK and Europe
- National security safeguards in the UK and US
- Safeguards against leakage of intellectual property on current Marconi products
The unions are also seeking assurances that any potential purchaser will honour existing agreements and recognition arrangements and retain current terms and conditions of employment including pension provisions and funding.
The unions are also pressing for full consultation over Marconi’s future and that contrary to the position of Marconi and the DTI, there is no obstacle posed by the UK Listing Rules, the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, or the US Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation on Full Disclosure.
Peter Skyte, Amicus National Officer, said: “Marconi is amongst the top ten British companies for investment in R&D, with a highly skilled and talented workforce. The future of Marconi and its workforce are critical to the UK retaining its high technology skills base if we are to avoid loss of high tech skilled jobs and intellectual property from the UK.
“We see this as a test of the commitment of both employers and government to information and consultation of employees and their representatives.”
More than 800 highly skilled jobs are being cut from Marconi after they lost out on a new BT contract for BT’s 21st century network to eight other foreign companies this year.
Marconi employees 4,000 workers, with major plants in Coventry, Chorley (Lancashire) and Beeston (Notts), and also has significant groups of employees in Germany, Italy and the US.
