Sika employee representatives are requiring assurances of Saint-Gobain
Bad Urach (AWP / SDA) - The European Works Council of the building materials manufacturer Sika Zuger has turned with an open letter to Saint-Gobain CEO Pierre-André de Chalendar. This call for the employees' representatives binding commitments for employees in the event of a takeover of Sika.
The council expresses its concern about a possible reduction of jobs in the letter. De Chalendar have repeatedly tried to portray the advantages of a takeover, citing, in particular on the use of synergies, the workers' representatives wrote in the letter, which was published on Thursday, and thus one day before the Extraordinary General Meeting of Sika.
"It is our fear that those synergies can only be achieved through the loss of jobs and ultimately be to the detriment of workers," wrote the council. The Council therefore calls for commitments by Saint-Gobain, that in the first three years after the acquisition, employment for all locations is ensured and the existing wage structure and the respective location-based social services are not impaired.
The council asks the Saint-Gobain CEO to relate to the demands clear and binding position in writing.
Against the takeover
Further, the council feared but also that parts of Sika could be spun off and sold to compensate for the high investment costs of the acquisition.
"Because of these unresolved issues for us, we remain of the opinion that it would be for Sika and its employees the best solution is to continue to exist as an independent Swiss company," provide the workers' representatives clearly. Therefore, the Council continues to be the search for alternatives on the part of the Sika Board of Directors in favor.
In order to take over the control of Sika with its French competitor Saint-Gobain rages a fierce dispute, which is now being fought through legal means. In December, the Sika-heirs had decided its shareholding in Sika and thus the majority of CHF 2.75 billion to Saint-Gobain to sell. By contrast, minority shareholders, the management and the Board of Directors of the group vehemently.