The German group Faulhaber, active in micromechanics, confirmed on Tuesday its desire to close the Chaux-de-Fonds site, thus eliminating around seventy jobs in order to relocate its production to Hungary. The Unia union and employees denounce this process.
After two and a half weeks of intensive consultation work with all employees, the delegation, made up of six employees of the company as well as the Unia union, submitted its consultation report to the company’s management on December 6 . “All the points in this report demonstrate not only that the company is viable, but also that it is profitable,” we can read in a press release.
The Neuchâtel State had also made a proposal for substantial aid to conserve the site. According to Unia, the relocation of production “constitutes a huge risk” for the Faulhaber Drive Systems (FDS) group and this could also cause a product born in La Chaux-de-Fonds to disappear.
“In a speech of barely six minutes, management confirmed, without perceptible emotion, that it preferred to terminate the employment contracts of around seventy people with the aim of relocating its production,” explained the union.
Drop in orders
In a press release released in November, the company explained that it was facing “a significant drop in orders over the past 18 months”. It added that it hoped the planned efficiency improvements and cost reductions would help secure its competitive position in the markets.
Faulhaber arrived in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 2001 through the purchase of the company Precistep, a manufacturer of precision micromotors. The German group has its headquarters in Switzerland in Croglio (TI) where it also has a production unit. In addition to La Chaux-de-Fonds, it is present in Granges (SO) and Bioggio (TI). The group also owns the Biel-based company MPS.
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