PARIS — Angry workers at Atmel Corp.'s fab in Rousset, France, have gone on an unlimited strike.
Started on Nov. 17, the 'unlimited strike' aims to protest against Atmel's decision to sell its site in Rousset without guaranteeing its employees that the plan, signed in March 2009, would be respected and implemented, according to French news websites L'Usine Nouvelle and Econostrum..
This plan indeed insures that, until 2013 and in case of a site closure, a redeployment bureau would be created and that each employee would obtain a pay-off starting at 34,000 euros (about $47,500).
According to workers' representatives, Atmel's fab in Rousset must produce 6,000 wafers per week to remain competitive. Currently, it is producing 3,200 wafers per week, and workers' representatives doubt potential buyers will want to increase the production.
"We have gathered information about three potential buyers, but we fear that they do not have the sufficient stature to guarantee the site durability," notified Yves Gerrini, general secretary of CFDT union, to L'Usine Nouvelle. "We want Atmel to select a reliable buyer, capable of guaranteeing that jobs will be maintained or of respecting the measures signed in Spring related to workers' redeployment or departures, in case the buyer fails. Until now, for confidentially reasons, we have been kept away from discussions."
In a commentary of financial results for the third quarter of 2009 earlier this month, Stephen Cumming, vice president of finance and CFO at Atmel, noted that the negative impact was greater than expected as its Rousset fab operated at lower utilization level than planned. "We expect that during Q4, gross margins will continue to be adversely impacted by reduced production levels at our Rousset fab," he continued.
Similarly, Steve Laub, president and CEO of Atmel, declared: "I think first of all, one thing that was mentioned here is that we are currently experiencing a temporary reduction in output at our wafer fabrication facility in Rousset, France. We anticipate it will continue to operate at this reduced output level until there is greater clarity regarding a potential transaction there. So that did impact our gross margin last quarter and it will impact our gross margin in this quarter. That is in the guidance number."
For the third quarter of 2009, Atmel reported sales of $318 million, up 12 percent sequentially, and exceeding the top end of its range by about 4 to 8 percent. Gross profit represented 31.1 percent of revenue, slightly lower than the group's guidance range of 32 to 35 percent.
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