Open Letter from French Workers to E&Y

By Mark Evans | Published: July 10, 2009

You have to give Nortel’s French employees a lot of credit for not taking the downsizing of the business sitting down.

In addition to a strike by more than 300 workers demanding better severance and other compensation, the group has produced videos and written an lettre-ouverte-du-ce-9-july-2009-nocom-eng alleging, among other things, that cash has been transferred out of Nortel’s French business.

This entry was posted in Financials and tagged ernst & young, france, Nortel, Strike. Bookmark the permalink. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.

scalppeeler

Canada must come First.
Re-instate severance obligations, hardship pay and larger AIP's for any CURRENT Nortel employees in Canada only who may find themselves out of a job in the near future.
Screw the rest of the world.
No more refugees.
No more asylum.
You don't matter.
You conform to Canada. It isn't the other way around.
Mandatory military service for male new immigrants unless they come
in to the country with over 250,000 bucks in assets.
I will say based on the french letter there is at least a perception Nortel is putting Canadians first. That's more than the Feds or McGuinea are doing, let alone guys like Manley.

I must be dreaming to think this is the attitude that would ever prevail in the tolerant nation of canuckistan.
Outta here.
Moose_Chaser

Get back to The Rez.

Smoke'm peace pipe and be one with the world.

MC
frenchguy

Hi scalppeeler !

You don't need to continue to write in this blog.
We all know that you are stupid… and when I say “stupid”, I am very kind with you.
All people part part of of Allaboutnortel are giving you officially today the award for the most useless, degrading, racist comments in this blog.

Congratulations !
Moose_Chaser

Scalppeeler = Scalpcutter

and we all remember THAT a-hole !
horace_grimswold

If a tree fell in the forest and nobody heard it…

E&Y bankruptcy team will surely respond to this e-mail with a forceful application of the “DELETE” key…..

Nobody takes this company seriously any more.
horace_grimswold

Patience, patience — scalppee-er's awaiting his clozapine prescription to get renewed. Mom said she would stop by the pharmacy on her lunch break today.
Moose_Chaser

>>> Here is Scalppeeler's Dad, back in the day: <<<

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R-FZsysQNw

MC
Teleguy

Well said!
frenchguy

We need all of you !!!!
FraudEqualsJAIL

Give us a break Horace.

Do you take corruption seriously?

E&Y bankruptcy team are being paid with bloodmoney. This is about Corruption in Canada resulting in the destruction of a hundred year old company in ONE DECADE. The culprits running free because if they go down they'll drag a whole lot of other corrupt model citizens of the year down with them. Thousands of families are being sacrificed to enrich a handfull of bastards. There's an ex-E&Y fat cat on the BoD for God's sake… This all is so WRONG.
Milan_Bekich

And now for something completely different…
.
Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO.O) is in the process of cutting between 1,500 and 2,000 jobs. according to an report from Thomas Weisel analyst Hasan Imam, which also said that the company could exceed its plan to cut annual costs by $1 billion with job cuts.
.
“Our checks indicate Cisco is aggressively managing expenses as management navigates through the downturn,” Imam said in the research report.
.
The analyst said that on top of cuts such as reducing travel budgets and cutting variable compensation he believed that “further cuts including a headcount reduction of about 1,500 to 2,000 persons is underway currently.”
.
“The headcount reduction alone would bring Cisco's operating expense run-rate down by about $200-$250 million annualized, strengthening our conviction that management will do better than its target operating expense reductions of about $1.0 billion a year,” Imam said in the report.
FraudEqualsJAIL

I heard this morning that Alcatel-Lucent are cutting 1 000 jobs in France before end of 2010…
less

..while Cisco and and ALu execs continue to enjoy fat bonuses..?
123test

How was the selection process to get E&Y assigned by the courts (Canada, US and UK) to manage this process?

Are the prices fixed regardless of the administrator and how much are E&Y charging?
FraudEqualsJAIL

Cisco and ALu workers should say “NO”… NOW.
Enough of this mascarade..It's killing us
stillNT

Get off unemployment and get a job buddy!
How_long

Canada is being put first. Nortel final salary pension fund in Canada is continuing. Nortel is still funding it. In the UK they ditched it. No more contributions. Closed to all. They did it the day before they filed for BK.
A_Peon

they have been the advisors of Nortel when they seeked guidance for bankruptcy protection, and thus were the best in the market due to their understanding of our business.
They must be profiting of agreements made before Ch11 to be part of the bonus for best restructuring act.
felixmk

Some good ideas but you'll have to get Canadians reproduce more if you stop immigration. The birth rate is too low to sustain the country. You would end up with 10 million frozen people living in Igloos and huts if you don't allow immigration. By the way, there is not enough money to put immigrants in the military and supply them with equipment and badges to put on their turbans.
amazedandconfused2002

I suppose striking make the employees in France feel better, but suspect it makes E&Y feel their decision to liquate Nortel Operations in France was the correct decision and overdue.

Nortel employees developed over the years a mistaken belief in a right or entitlement to employment, bountiful benefits, and extended severance. They forgot Nortel exists in a competitive world – one that is increasingly dominated by Chinese and India based companies whose employees work for a fraction of the salary and benefits of G-8 world employees. Surely management incompetance greatly contributed to the demise of Nortel; but my fellow Nortelers, we played our role, too.
TexasBahr

I feel for my brothers and sisters in France and Canada but the largest cut was here in the U.S., When that was happening, the silence was deafening from the rest of Nortel. It was as if non U.S. Nortel employees were hoping that if they said little maybe it would be confined to the U.S..
I think globally we have to accept that Nortel executives are an equal opportunity screwer and no matter how much we protest, we are dead meat.
I have learned that pent up anger only hurts ourselves. Let it go. Find some employer that actually appreciates the contribution you make.
GoProto

France has different labour laws than the other countries that Nortel has or did have operations running in. The implications of what E & Y , NT are doing are different in France, get it? Its not an “at will” employment situation, NT is actually breaking employment contracts there. Not because they want to “feel better”, but they have more of a leg to stand on technically, or morally speaking-even if BK negates their rights. It pisses me off that you are somehow saying that their strike makes E & Y's decision to liquidate operations in France justifiable. That is a really crappy thing to say, and dead wrong.
Another_Nortel_Watcher

“The analyst said that on top of cuts such as reducing travel budgets and cutting variable compensation…”

I love it. “Reducing travel budgets” is the sign of a bloated company. First, if the travel wasn't essential to the business in the first place, why was it budgeted and planned? Second, travel budgets are one of the big levers that out-of-touch and out-of-control executives use to cut costs.

“Cutting variable compensation” sounds interesting. I assume that means taking the upside out of bonus schemes. That would never happen at Nortel under the GEnius. Nortel is in chapter 11 and they still aren't doing that.
FraudEqualsJAIL

Then our only chance of survival if we want to maintain are G-8 salaries (that are hardly enough to make ends meet in our G-8 world) is to switch to jobs that can't be reloacted in low salary countries.. what jobs does that leave us low-level peons? Must check .. Life Made Simple
yes4aapl

03/10/2009

So how many employees are left at Nortel Networks Corp. (NT) in North America? Canadian Business writer Andrew Wahl found out and the stats aren’t pretty.

That’s especially true when you consider that Nortel – in the midst of bankruptcy reorganization – recently announced 5,000 layoffs, many of which have yet to take effect.

According to Canadian Business after a fact-check with Nortel, the numbers are as follows:

* 5,639 in Canada overall
* 3,844 in Ottawa
* 8,882 in the United States
* 14,521 in North America total
A_Peon

Who's next ?
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/busi…
ChaiTea

Non Outsourced Jobs (with G8 Salaries)
=============================

Monitors for distressed companies in bankruptcy
Lawyers for distressed companies in Bankruptcy
Executives who outsource jobs and distress companies
Vulture Fund Managers who spot & buy distressed companies
Health Care Providers for distressed employees working in distressed companies
Board Of Directors
unknownPath

we already heard your racist attitude before in “Nortel Employees in France Go on Strike” and you were dominated then and now. please just discuss tech and nortel on a blog about tech and nortel.
And yes, you are dreaming because the attitude of Canada has moved on from this ignorant mentality.

Outta here
FraudEqualsJAIL

UK, France, Northern Ireland… Nortel will be on TV all over EMEA soon…Never had that much coverage when the Nortel Marketing gurus where in power…

Can you truly call someone who writes “Nortel’s headquarters in Toronto filed for bankruptcy earlier this year after a downturn in international business.” a JOURNALIST ? Pathetic.
broadbandbill

Magnifique! These are today’s Gardes Françaises – just in time for Bastille Day (July 14th.)…–bb
yes4aapl

They forgot Nortel exists in a competitive world – one that is increasingly dominated by Chinese
=====
re
Outsourcing to China was a business and political mistake.
That country is on the edge of civil war.
You cannot repeat Tiananmen Square massacre every few years, can you?
GoProto

These are scary times – Look at the countries that have their military and security forces out on the streets against their own people- China, Honduras, Somalia, Iran..the general population is kept poor and downtrodden with little or no human rights.. the labor is cheap, and their people have no way of getting ahead..Honduras is a real surprise.. if they had a military coup, then it is possible just about anywhere..these counties are unstable and people reach a boiling point beacuse they have no acceptable way to make change or stand up against the powers in charge
A_Peon

it is a long weekend in France with a lot of people having also Monday off to make it 4 days long.
But, people will be taking turns over the weekend to ensure presence day and nights until everybody comes back….we are that much determined.
unshackled

I guess this is what the 2nd amendment (the right to bear arms) was designed to avoid.
exnt_x_2

Horace,

Now how in the hell would you know about clozapine?

I do myself because my family has an interesting, uhm, pedigree.

Just curious. I didn't think anyone used it any more.
joedoe1

This is exactly the same dirty plan they are following up for Germany. The E & Y admins have alredy put pressure on 240 german employees to accept their low cost and low risk (for the company and E&Y) kickout offers which is for low cost and low risk for Nortel , however far below of the legal entitlements of the employees. E & Y also made the statement that an administer of a secondary insolvency would have no chance to get his hands on the NNG Funds (44millions) , which have been transferred on UK Bank accounts obviously for the benefit of exec compensation plans, payment of E&Y oversized bills and further transfer to Nortel Canada!

Sad note on the side is, the Workscouncil seem to have surrendered
exnt_x_2

Something I noticed at Nortel and another place I worked at; the Chinese are thieves. Seriously. On the down low, stealing copies of software and documentation was entirely acceptable to the managers that were originally from China.

I will never work for a company like Nortel or that other again. Never.

And I will put anyone that steals from my company in prison. Given the value of the IP, he or she would be looking at a few years minimum. How do you say, “Bend over,” in Chinese?
amazedandconfused2002

Not sure if you are referrng to my comments or not. I cannot comment on whether the actions by E&Y are legal or not according to French law. I do understand that the labor laws in France provide a higher level than say the USA. But, the reality is these laws potentially leave a company with higher costs, and hence at a cost disadvantage against companies without these obligations, like companies in China. At the end of the day, higher costs challenge a company's competitiveness and customers, who ultimately make the decisions on whether a company is succesful or not, tend to not buy uncompetitive products. No sales = no money to pay salaries, benefits, and severance. And G-8 telecommunication providers, like PTT's, do not seem to be bothered about buying from lower cost Chinese companies versus companies who have had a higher employment presence in the countries in which they are based. Maybe instead of striking Nortel, strike FT.
horace_grimswold

If you're still waiting for charges to be laid for the Bre-X scandal, you're probably blue in the gills from holding your breath.

It is wrong. It royally sucks. Nortel'ers on every continent are getting shafted. But with a parliament that couldn't properly grill the CEO and an RCMP that keeps getting distracted by donut breaks at Tim Hortons, don't hold your hopes up on any action being taken.

If you haven't noticed already, Nortanic is sinking faster than its anchor, so jump on a life boat and paddle as fast as you can. Better hopes abound elsewhere.
4merEmployee22

Ernst & Young Inc. Lawfirm will definitely receive a guaranteed payments
of more than $5,000,000 million US dollars for their
Administrative Legal services!!! Since only Jan 14 ,2009. NOT BAD, EH?

I don't know who set up and created an ESCROW ACCOUNT???
and who suggested it!! and how much was deposited into that
account. Pity and so sad!
4merEmployee22

You have to realize, my friend , that the STANDARD OF LIVING in
North America ( Canada & USA) is no comparison to the
Standard of Living in China & India!!!
A REFUGEE in Canada receives more $$$$ benefits, than a
RETIREE who worked in the country most of their working life,
and paid TAXES… lets say 30 years or more!! PITY! Isn't it?
4merEmployee22

E & Y Inc. Lawfirm was probably selected, recommended by one of the NORTEL
BoD who used to work for that Lawfirm!!! wala?

It's called “FRIEND CONNECTIONS”….
less

Anything that counters global warming is okay by the global village….
less

Also not sitting down are:

One of the big names in the Northern Ireland economy is facing a summer of discontent over the treatment of workers made redundant at its ailing plant, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal today.

Angry ex-workers of Nortel Networks in Newtownabbey have vowed to stage a series of protests beginning today with a picket at the Doagh Road site.

The controversy has echoes of the bitter Visteon dispute in Belfast earlier this year, with a lack of redundancy money among the main grievances.

In a statement to the Belfast Telegraph today, the Nortel protesters said: “We are not going to let up in our fight for justice.

“Nortel sent us packing with no redundancy money, no notice and no right of appeal.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/busi…
4merEmployee22

How does one define “LEGAL ROBBERY?” Do they really teach this one in Law Schools???
Very difficult to prove and contest it in court doesn't it???

What the heck is an NNG Funds??? Is this similar to an
ESCROW FUNDS??? he! he! he! I am just curious?
yes4aapl

Global warming is BS
Save Planet when China does all the pollution because West outsourced manufacturing to China is BS as well!
I'm waiting for hot summer in Canada, have not seen that yet
Global warming is BS /sorry I said so before/
They have got me here… plastic bags!
Who the hell was that?
They don't give the plastic bags anymore, neither they give paper bags….
shameless!
What about the business in a grocery store where the speed of service at the cash register was an issue.
Some cashiers were able to serve 400-500 customers in an hour years ago.
Nowadays they have to have the small talk with you… did you find every thing you were looking for? what is your postal code?
do you need bags? how many bags you need? How the hell I suppose to know that?
Do you have own bags? Please show me your bags I'll show you mine…
Pauljam

What has this got to do with Nortel/E&Y wilfully breaching contracts and breaking employment laws in France and UK?

By your logic if I can't afford a new car it is reasonable for me to steal one.
joedoe1

NNG Funds, I meant the cash position of Nortel Networks Germany, which have be put aside just in time by the E& Y on to UK bank accounts! Sorry if that was unclear!
A_Peon

the trip to E&Y: a good example of how to make noise.
don't miss the start of the walk with the coffin starting at 7:30

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiesNjBG6hY
A_Peon

and a lot more here.
http://www.youtube.com/user/3L124V

Maybe you have some of your colleagues there.
the fight goes on,
Monday w'll have E&Y coming on site to negociate.

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