PARIS, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Telecoms equipment makerAlcatel-Lucent must negotiate a good deal with unionsthat saves as many jobs as possible or face the risk that itsrestructuring will not be rubber-stamped, French Prime MinisterJean-Marc Ayrault said on Wednesday.
Alcatel-Lucent unveiled plans on Tuesday to cut 10,000 jobsworldwide, including 900 in France.
"We want a negotiation that saves as many jobs as possible,as many sites as possible," Ayrault told Europe 1 radio, adding a labour law voted earlier this year gave workers morenegotiating rights.
"If there is no majority agreement (with unions) the socialplan won't be accepted, because the law now gives the state theresponsibility so to act," Ayrault said, without specifying whatthe consequences would be.
President Francois Hollande had called on Alcatel-Lucent onTuesday to save as many jobs as possible.
The French parliament passed in May a landmark reform of thecountry's labour code, which makes it easier for firms to carryout layoffs but also introduces new rules for negotiation withstaff.
Any agreement with unions on job-cut plans must now beapproved by the authorities within two weeks under the new law.
Vodafone (VOD)
