Esso SAF considers cutting jobs

Sept. 23, 2003
International oil major Esso SAF is contemplating cutting 164 jobs in France as part of an initiative being examined by ExxonMobil Corp. to centralize some European services.

By an OGJ correspondent
PARIS, Sept. 23 -- International oil major Esso SAF is contemplating cutting 164 jobs in France as part of an initiative being examined by ExxonMobil Corp. to centralize some European services.

An Esso spokesman told OJG that options are being studied, and that nothing has been decided yet. The suggested job cuts are the framework of a project to centralize numerous services, such as computer services or human resources.

Esso SAF Chairman and CEO Patrick Heinzle met with the Central Workers Committee last week. The meeting is slated to be resumed Oct. 1 to discuss the project aimed at bolstering corporate efficiency and reducing costs.

The trade unions have suggested that job cuts in Europe could be as high as 1, 500, but the Esso spokesman was not able to confirm or deny this figure