REDUNDANCIES AT STC, SOUTHAMPTON, AND ALCATEL SA

That this House notes with concern the declaration of 85 redundancies at STC, Southampton; further notes that these redundancies come only a year after Alcatel SA informed the Monopolies and Mergers Commission that the company foresaw no need for redundancies if they were allowed to purchase STC and that STC have failed to honour procedure agreements with recognised trades unions regarding the avoidance of redundancies and the selection of employees for redundancies; notes also that it is easier to make employees redundant and to ignore union agreements in the United Kingdom than in other European countries in which Alcatel operates; and therefore calls upon Alcatel SA to ensure that STC adheres to the relevant procedure agreements on redundancy and to reaffirm its commitment to cable manufacturing in the UK.