News

Workers and unions in France took protest action yesterday against management practices at France Telecom which some say have contributed to a series of suicides among staff.



Estimates from management and unions are that between 15% and 40%of the firm's 100,000 workers took part in the work stoppage, and several hundred staged peaceful rallies in Paris and some provincial towns.



On Monday, the company replaced the manager of its French operations and the company chairman and chief executive Didier Lombard has promised to negotiate a "new social contract" with staff.



24 France Telecom employees have taken their own lives since the beginning of 2008, the majority of them leaving notes referring to pressures at work. The company has undergone massive changes since privatisation in the late 1990s, including tens of thousands of job losses and even some France Telecom executives have expressed the view that this has contributed to stress amongst staff.



The French government retains a 27% stake in the company and officials have met with Mr. Lombard to encourage the company to take action to address the issue.



France Telecom has set up a telephone counselling service and has put on hold further management reforms.