Crucial talks between unions and management on the restructuring of ATR manufacturing operations are to start on 23 May, just days before the airframe builder is formally launched as a separate company.
Turboprop manufacturer ATR, a joint venture owned by EADS and Alenia, is to become "ATR Integrated", a standalone company, on 1 June. The talks with the unions are aimed at resolving issues resulting in possible job losses and the movement of staff between France and Italy as the new company seeks production line efficiencies.
The company will only say that its employees' prospects are "still under negotiation". EADS Toulouse is responsible for final assembly with Alenia producing major sub-assemblies for the ATR42 and ATR72 50 and 50 seaters.
The new company is an attempt to make the long-term operations of the struggling manufacturer more efficient. ATR Integrated is taking the incorporation of Airbus as a model, uniting the two companies' marketing and production under a single company. There are around 2,000 people working on the ATR project for the two companies.
Finmeccanica, owner of Alenia and EADS, has still to formally approve the deal and name a unified board.
Source: Flight International
