On the 26th and 27th of October 2011, the French group Areva (120 500 employees) announced to its European Works Council its intention to cut nearly 950 jobs in the framework of a significant cost savings programme (see here).

Update: On 13 December 2011, the group gave more details within a drastic cost saving plan: In addition to increased job cuts in Germany and Belgium, jobs in France will also be cut. Areva aims to reduce its workforce by natural departures of 200 to 250 employees per year by 2016. This will sum up to 1000 up to 1250 departures by 2016.

The downsizing will affect support functions (8,000 employees worldwide). Areva's CEO had announced, after discussions with the French Prime Minister in mid-November 2011, that the company would not dismiss employees in France.

The European Works Council has requested Areva to refrain from implementing any measures before it was fully informed and consulted.