G4S is the biggest security firm in the country and on 7 May announced a social plan to cut 80 jobs, including 60 layoffs, in three phases until the end of the year.

“We were able to convince management of the usefulness of social tools like early retirement and training, or voluntary departures,” said Paul Glouchitski of the LCGB.

“The management of G4S didn’t have the intention to fire for firing’s sake,” said Michelle Cloos, of majority union OGBL. “I think they panicked because of the financial situation, and on top of that weren’t well-versed with using social tools to limit layoffs. We have been able to find solutions, but we could have avoided the bad press of a social plan by choosing dialogue from the beginning.”

The agreement will help staff retrain for internal reassignment or to make it easier for people willing to leave to find work elsewhere. Unions and the company have also contacted the security services branch of industry federation Fedil to work together on more long-term perspectives for the sector.

However, should G4S’s financial situation not improve by end of year, both sides agreed that 15 staff would have to be fired. “This will be a last resort. The job retention plan will give us time to find solutions with the social tools,” said Cloos. “It resassures the employees.”

A steering committee will review the situation in November this year.

As the vaccination campaign progresses, the LCGB hopes for a pick-up in activity for the security firm, for example at Luxembourg’s airport, events and more.

This story was first published in French on Paperjam. It has been translated and edited for Delano.