Ubisoft proposes further cost reductions

Following last week's announcement about cancelling games, closing studios, and restructuring what's left, today, Ubisoft proposed a "voluntary mutual termination agreement" that will affect 200 people — about 20% of the workforce — at the company's Paris studio.

As reported at GamesIndustry.biz, the company's statement says:

In line with last week’s announcements on its new operating model and the acceleration of cost-reduction initiatives, Ubisoft International has initiated discussions regarding a potential Rupture Conventionnelle Collective (RCC), a collective, voluntary mutual termination agreement that could involve up to 200 positions at its headquarters in France.
At this stage, this remains a proposal, and no decision will be final until a collective agreement is reached with employee representatives and validated by French authorities. The proposal applies exclusively to Ubisoft International employees under French contracts and has no impact on other French entities or Ubisoft teams worldwide.

It's being described as an "acceleration of cost-reduction initiatives." The proposal is a Rupture Conventionnelle Collective, or, in slightly less French terms, voluntary not-technically-layoffs layoffs. The deal will have to be approved by French authorities and the labor representatives for the employees.

In response, the industry union Solidaires Informatique told GamesIndustry.biz:

At this stage, it seems clear to us that Yves Guillemot has no knowledge or understanding of his company or its employees. The company is continuing its cost reduction and lay off plan. Our teams are already working under pressure, often understaffed. After several years without pay rises (or very small increases), we understand that once again, employees will not receive a raise this year. At the same time, the reorganisation is creating a number of high-level positions with excessive salaries.