Nortel Strikes Descend in Paris

By Mark Evans | Published: July 13, 2009

Nortel’s French employees are certainly feisty. They recently descended in Paris to protest outside Ernst & Young’s offices:

Source: Light Reading Europe

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  • FrenchFlair

    France graveyard made by Ernst&Young

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmkXDg-zwOo

  • stillNT

    Bravo!

  • Nortel_Employee_2009

    Bravo Bravo….. hats off to the French employees for their persistence to go after Nortel.

    I hope Nortel gets shamed into reversing it's course on the severance.

    Nortel, once the super star, is now the shame of Canada. Canadians laugh at you if you say you work for Nortel.

    Best of luck

  • Meridian

    Excellent !! My Canadian high-school french is not so good anymore. What is the chant they are saying ?

  • scalppeeler

    What a sham.
    I bet these parisians are unionized to the hilt.
    They probably have some kind of union bailout to pay their wages
    for a year and likely have a job waiting for them.
    They are just doing this dog and pony show for publicity.

  • Moose_Chaser

    >> RIGHT ON FRANCE !!! <<

    I feel only ONE thing now for Nortel:

    DISGUST

    MC

  • Moose_Chaser

    Yes, and you are just posting your comments here, to get angru responses, to feed your low esteem.

    THERE ! You got one e-mail response !

    Feel better ?

    MC

  • scalppeeler

    I think it says something about francophones are first class citizens in Canada or something about how taking french in school when you are english is a huge waste of the taxpayers money.
    We're funding this???

  • scalppeeler

    so what do you do with the moose when you catch it.
    forget it.
    i don't want to know.

  • ChaiTea

    Time to polish up our picketing skills. Perhaps we can learn from our colleagues in France.

    When MP takes over, they most probably have a huge round of layoffs in NA for cost-cutting.

  • Milan_Bekich

    Meridian

    The chant is as follows:

    Dégueulasse; merdique; chier; merde; putain; chier !

    Dégueulasse; merdique; chier; merde; putain; chier !

    Dégueulasse; merdique; chier; merde; putain; chier !

    Milan

  • unshackled

    Sounds like “We want indemnity” but I could be wrong. scalpkeeper, I used to feel the same about having to learn english in french school. And why would the French be saying they are first class citizens? That's just stating the obvious :P

  • scalppeeler

    Well let's look at the numbers.
    MP are on the hook for 420 million.
    10 percent of the 4.2 billon debt.
    So they at least want that back.
    Buying just wireless doesn't fill their coffers enough to cover.
    So they are going for the whole enchilada.
    They want it all.
    Question remains how much they are willing to pay and who can
    support them ala investment.
    Right now I'd say their chances of success are 50-50, given the lack
    of information.
    Will they layoff alot in North America.
    Too early to say and there is no reason to think they
    will be more inclined to do so when comparing to CALA, Europe,
    Asia etc.
    Simply too early to say..

  • scalppeeler

    Let's start the new chant.
    Je me souviens.
    Yes. I remember blowing it at the plains because
    I fell asleep at the switch dining on poutine and wine, allowing an inferior british force sneak attack to surprise and outflank us under cover of darkeness and inclement weather after scaling the cliffs and coming in on a path that should have been covered.
    Where were the sentries?
    Where were the officers with foresight?
    We remember alright.
    Personally I could care less who won at the plains.
    Maybe Canada would be better off today if France had controlled Canada after the fact.
    The french are more the explorer type.
    Quebec takes care of its own first before anyone else.
    A lesson Ontario could sure learn let alone immigration policies.

  • razzy1

    MP is owed 420 million but they did they purchase this debt from a 3rd party for much less than that? They may not need anywhere near 420 million to make a profit on this.

  • NTInfidel

    Does Matlin Patterson have an office in Ottawa. Maybe we can picket them and tell them CDMA/LTE employees don't want their bid, don't think they know what they are doing and can expect nothing but an employee revolt.

    I will join any effort to get the word out against Matlin Patterson.

    NSN has done extensive due diligence, they have the organizational infrastructure to support the pieces they are picking up and it is a good fit all around. Most people have stopped looking for jobs with a NSN bid on the table.

    MP instills no confidence in employees or customers, if they win the bid, everyone will be looking for jobs the next day and I am sure the customers will give up and look for new suppliers. The unit will wither and die under MP control, in a year they won't be able to give it away.

    Employees don't want MP control, customers don't want MP control. MP is a disaster waiting to happen. We need to find a way to protest this.

  • PeopleAreOurStrength

    Some additional videos (High Def mode available):

    1) Nortel France employment graveyard now visible from space…
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ3fg8a59X0
    Looks like GoogleEarth needs to be rewarded for that one…

    2) Burial of Nortel France coffin (ceremony occured today 13/07 on the Châteaufort premises). Is the strange guy in black suit an E&Y rep ???
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlkk1SPeuzw

  • scalppeeler

    What part of 420 million Debt associated with Nortel do you fail to understand.
    Doesn't matter where they purchased it from.
    Nortel owe then 420 million.
    It really is that simple.

  • horace_grimswold

    They didn't that kind of vocabulary in my Ontario French immersion class!

  • yes4aapl

    Does Matlin Patterson have an office in Ottawa.
    ..
    Employees don't want MP control, customers don't want MP control. MP is a disaster waiting to happen.
    …
    re
    links pls
    Why employees don't want MP?
    NSN promised temporary solution for 2500 employees
    What about 25 k left?
    I think MP will take care of most of the employees if they take over Nortel.

  • razzy1

    My point is that they do not need 420 million to cover what they paid for the debt. They are not “on the hook for 420 million”.

  • scalppeeler

    Oh Giggety Giggety.
    Talk about your oxymoron “Ontario French” Immersion.
    Gotta train all those ontarions or francophones to speak french so
    they can count out loud in french all the vehicles that cross over from Hull and Quebec on the bridge in the morning. The true french people coming to take their rightful place at posh federal gov't jobs in ottawa.
    Yea Baby. You know it.

  • NTInfidel

    I don't need links, I have extensive contacts from working here 15 years. Currently I work in Ottawa with CDMA/LTE and there is universal derision here for the MP bid. NSN has done significant due diligence, and successfully built good will. In contrast MP has done nothing, and no one I have spoken with believes anything but a complete failure will result from MP takeover. There is a definite feeling that the fit with NSN is nearly perfect and people are enthusiastic to go with them.

    As far as the other 25K, the ONLY FUTURE is various unit sales as Nortel is cut up and sold off. Nortel is dead and I think most sane people realize that. Nortel was obviously the walking dead for years, now that it is exposed there is no going back.

    Answered?

    Now how about you? I have yet to meet anyone in real life who supports MP. Why do you support it. Do you no realize that MP makes Mike Z look like a Care bear. They have zero vision, no telecom experience, no plan and think they can make more cuts and make Nortel profitable again. If you had a history with the company to understand it's state today, you would realize how ridiculous that idea is.

  • scalppeeler

    All good points about the uncertainty of MP.
    The fact remains however is it is all going to come down to that green stuff. Money, moolah, cash, coin.
    Nothing more.
    Nothing less.
    If the creditors, judge and lawyers figure MP can bid more than what the LOB`s and other asset selloffs can muster they will go for it.
    I would venture to say if MP can come to the table with an offer anywhere from 2 billion to 3 billion it is a done deal.
    The big questions.
    How much will they be able to offer.
    Will they get the money from other investors.
    Who will throw in with them.
    I think anything less than 2 billion means they are likely out of luck but hard to say. Stranger things have happened.
    Sue Spradley flew into ottawa today looking reserved and bored. Far from enthusiastic.
    It all stinks.
    And what is joannou there for.
    Really. Why is he there.
    What in gods name kind of difference can he make.
    With him brought in it almost makes you think it is smoke and mirrors and MP hope he can add some credibility when
    they present their case. Not likely.

  • scalppeeler

    Last time I checked 10 percent of 4.2 billion is 420 million. Read the article.
    MP are creditors.
    They are owed 420 million bucks.
    They own 10 percent of the 4.2 billion debt.
    They most definitely are on the hook for 420 million.

  • Meridian

    razzy is rightly pointing out that MP bought into that high risk debt already at a significant discount. So on paper they hold 420M, but they got it for less.

  • Milan_Bekich

    Horace

    If you were immersed in Quebec you would have become very well acquainted with merde, a.k.a. the Old Stock (de souche) .

    Milan

  • Meridian

    well guess I now have some new Parisian swear words to add to my “bière svp” …. anyways … kudos to the folks in France… way to go.

  • yes4aapl

    Nortel is dead and I think most sane people realize that. Nortel was obviously the walking dead for years, now that it is exposed there is no going back.
    ====
    re
    Look at you.
    Because you say so it must be true, isn't it?
    You hiding behind a nickname, oh what a nick!, and we all have to trust you, don't we?
    I know that Nortel is dead in current form and with Mike Z plus BOD who are killing Nortel.
    CDMA is 10% of employees…. just to satisfy your personal desire you are not open for discussion about the rest, about 25000.
    I think you are one of them, one of GEniuses who are the problem not the part of solution.
    You ignore the real owners of the company, shareholders, creditors. No respect, why?
    Same for you, no respect, get lost!

  • bulletproof

    A lot of actions to come from France soon. It would be a victory if all people in Nortel all over the world could stand up and say: “that's enough!”

  • Go_David

    Man, you have no honor or dignity. Just be happy can jump on another boat, which is never make money so far. I do not see any respect from NSN of 650M figure.

  • yes4aapl

    It would be a victory if all people in Nortel all over the world could stand up and say: “that's enough!”
    ===
    re
    You don't need that, man/woman.
    You have already won. Congrats to all French employees.
    You don't need the “Pyrrhic victory”, meaning a victory which comes at a crippling cost.

  • NTblinker

    Is this means 500 will not be laid off?

  • NTInfidel

    I have indicated where I am, how long I have been here, what I have seen and I have indicated the best chance for the other businesses. So I have answered your questions, and indicated the best chance for the remaining 25000. I have many friends within other divisions and they also agree that their only hope is a unit sale.

    You have displayed the true lack of respect of not explaining where you are are and what logic you use to think MP will be a good choice. Are you even an employee at all?

  • nblog

    Answer his questions, don't be like Mike Z. and change the topic.

  • nblog

    MP didn't pay $420m for their $420m share of debit. If they paid more then $42m I would be surprised so yes you are right they are owed $420m but in my best guess anything over $43m repaid to MP is gravy.

  • NTblinker

    ok! fight was for better severance.

  • silentwatcher

    Instead of attacking people's nicknames, why don't you just answer his questions? I am from America and everyone I have spoken to support the NSN deal. As for the other employees, other asset selloffs will help them transition into a new company. It's best for all employees to work for a stable telecommunication company than work for someone without any telecom experience. We paid the price for that under Mike Z.

    And oh yes before I forget
    “What about 25 k left?
    I think MP will take care of most of the employees if they take over Nortel.”

    re
    Look at you.
    Because you say so it must be true, isn't it?

    Two can play the game :P

  • less

    Three can: Your nic is dishonest, un-silent watcher. ;p

  • yes4aapl

    why you think MP (a player who has not done due diligence, offered no plan, has no telecom experience) will magically rescue all of Nortel. BTW Are you even an employee at all? Which division?
    ====
    re
    Look at just part of your statement
    How bias and loaded with negative suggestion about MP?
    OH, we know that it was GEniuses who promised Plan of restructuring Nortel and emerging from BK protection to keep creditors on a distance.
    It was a lie. Mike Z produced no Plan and secured bonuses for ELT. You cannot call firesale assets a Plan. Get lost because your dishonesty is transparent.

  • yes4aapl

    why you think MP (a player who has not done due diligence, offered no plan, has no telecom experience) will magically rescue all of Nortel. BTW Are you even an employee at all? Which division?
    ====
    re
    Look at just part of your statement
    How bias and loaded with negative suggestion about MP?
    OH, we know that it was GEniuses who promised Plan of restructuring Nortel and emerging from BK protection to keep creditors on a distance.
    It was a lie. Mike Z produced no Plan and secured bonuses for ELT. You cannot call firesale assets a Plan. Get lost because your dishonesty is transparent.

  • ChaiTea

    Yes thats how MP works. But scalp is right…MP will go for much more than their discounted purchase price. See my earlier post to see how they have strategized in the past for getting big returns on their debt investments.
    .
    http://www.allaboutnortel.com/2009/07/13/matlin…

  • bulletproof

    Exact: fight is for better severance, as many employees don't believe any more in Nortel (very few people printed “I believe” posters after 14th of january).
    Employees understand that Nortel is dead, and that a great battle has began to get cash from this disaster.
    All these demonstrations are done to show that they want to be considered has human (and their colleagues as well), and that execs, attorneys, administrators will have to fight to get money as they would like.
    Stay connected, as E&Y UK is said to come in France in the next days. Courageous, or foolish ?

  • bulletproof

    A lot of employees in France think of their colleagues in UK or US or Canada, where demonstrations are more difficult to organize, and where terrorism management may be easier as “strike culture” does not exist.
    Last time, there were some words written on flyers for the Canadian employee that committed suicide last week.

  • NTInfidel

    Again, you choose insults over answers. You still have not given one reason for your faith in MP.

    Where do I claim Mike Z has a plan? You are just changing the subject again.

    Nokia has a plan/direction/way forward/telecom infrastructure experience/done extensive due diligence and has opened communications with employees.

    What is MP offering employees? I haven't seen them on campus investigating the state of the business, They have no experience running a telecom infrastructure manufacturer as Nokia-Siemens does, they have not opened communications with employees. Nothing. These are facts, not bias. MP has done nothing but posture in the media.

    NSN 5 : MP 0.

    So again. Are you an employee? What unit? How long? What is MP doing that makes them a better fit than NSN.

  • yes4aapl

    They have no experience running a telecom infrastructure manufacturer as Nokia-Siemens does, they have not opened communications with employees. Nothing. These are facts, not bias. MP has done nothing but posture in the media.

    NSN 5 : MP 0.

    So again. Are you an employee? What unit? How long? What is MP doing that makes them a better fit than NSN.
    ====
    re
    Let me tell you something, you exposed yourself too much here. I think you crossed the line. You are paid by Nortel, not Nokia, right?
    You suppose to find and support the best and most profitable solution for Nortel as the corporation. What if Nokia goes away and MP takes over? Will you still support Nokia $650 mill bid?

  • forgive

    “Last time, there were some words written on flyers for the Canadian employee that committed suicide last week.”

    Really? where is the source?

  • NTInfidel

    I think you need to make up your mind about what to complain about. Before I was hiding behind an alias. Now I am too exposed…

    And you still haven't answered any questions. I am supporting the unit sale to NSN that is fully supported by Nortel this does not run counter to my Nortel employment. If NSN lose and MP takes over, I have already stated I will look for a new job because I have no confidence in MP.

  • bulletproof

    See this flyer on the Nortanic blog (blog to follow the french strike, and some global news on Nortel):
    http://nortanic-france.org/IMG/pdf/tract_J5.pdf

    Last sentence:
    “Une pensée pour la famille d’un ex employé canadien (32 ans de boîte) qui s’est suicidé.”
    Which means: “a thought for the family of a canadian employee who committed suicide.”

    These flyers are distributed inside Nortel and to any people walking next to a demonstration, for example.

    I think this reaction of french employee is strong also because they have seen their UK colleagues fired by E&Y, and they didn't accept that someone treat these people like that. “Fraternité”

  • LostToken

    I take it threats of violence were part of the “actions to come?”

    Workers threaten to blow up plant…
    http://www.cnbc.com/id/31917947

    The frustration is completely understandable. However, this is not how I personally would choose to “stand up.” (Though I expect I'll get flamed for that stance.)

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