By John Donovan
The email (below) that I sent a few minutes ago to Michiel Brandjes, Company Secretary and General Counsel Corporate, Royal Dutch Shell Plc – provides the latest insider news on the pending Shell EP job cuts announcement.
EMAIL TO MICHIEL BRANDJES, COMPANY SECRETARY, ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC
From: John Donovan <[email protected]>
Date: 8 September 2009 09:54:26 BST
To: [email protected]
Subject: Shell EP Job Cuts
Dear Mr Brandjes
I have printed below links to articles about the Shell EP pending job cuts announcement. These were all published subsequent to my previous emails to you on the subject dated 3 & 4 September. These are just the articles which cite our website as being the source of leaks relating to the announcement. There are many others which referred to the site, but not by name and others which failed to give us any credit.
It seems that the first cracks are appearing in the timeline of the Peter Voser restructuring plan.
I am sorry to learn of the difficulties in the discussions with the Staff Council which has delayed the announcement from Monday to today (and perhaps even longer). You and your colleagues must be concerned that the Staff Council has thus far refused to endorse the EP reorganisation. That could of course turn into a major embarrassment.
I further understand that it has been agreed that Downstream will wait until Q1 2010 to fully implement the planned reorganisation.
In connection with the recently issued guidelines to Public Affairs on how to deal with these “leaks” (containing a statement that Shell does not comment on leaks), please include these guidelines in the SAR application I made to you on 4 Sept 2009 under Section 7 (1) of the Data Protection Act (if they refer to me by name or mention the website I operate).
Personally, I believe as a long term Shell shareholder that it would be a better policy to correct any inaccurate information given to Shell in advance of publication. That seems more in keeping with the claimed transparency pledge in Shell Business Principles and in the best interests of Shell employees concerned over these sweeping changes.
Best Regards
John Donovan
| Dow Jones Syndicated article “2nd UPDATE: Shell To Unveil More Job-Cut Details Soon“: published on 4 September 2009 by various news sites
John Donovan, the blogger managing Royaldutchshellplc.com, a Web site critical of the company, said he was told by his sourcesproduction division will be cut by 15%. |
| Shell Job Cuts Media Coverage 5/7 September 2009
Sun: Shell axe ‘warning’ (Newspaper) OIL giant SHELL is preparing to axe more than 2,000 of its staff, it was claimed last night. Sources said that middle-managers had been told in an internal email that the coming days will bring more information about Shells reorganisation. A Shell protest website royaldutchshellplc.com claimed 15 PER CENT of the companys exploration and production team could go. Shell, which axed 150 top managers in July, has previously warned that 24,500 would be affected in some way by chief exec Peter Vosers restructuring plans. The company refused to comment last night. Financial Times: Shell set to unveil job cuts (Website) Royaldutchshellplc.com, an independent website used by present and former Shell staff, said:Although precise figures have not been supplied to us, our estimate based on an analysis of the leaked information received, is that on average, staff numbers [in exploration and production] will be cut by 15 per cent. It said some experienced staff expected to have to re-apply for their jobs. Financial Times: Shell set to unveil job cuts (Newspaper) Calgary Herald: Oilpatch yearns for end to layoffs Extracts: Meanwhile, Royal Dutch Shell PLC could be planning job cuts of around 15 per cent in its core exploration and production unit which includes Shell Canada, Reuters reported on Friday, citing sources inside the oil major. An announcement on a restructuring of the unit, which generates most of the company’s profit, is due on Monday, Shell protest website Royaldutchshellplc.comsaid. Shell declined to comment. In May, Europe’s largest oil company by market value said it planned to restructure its exploration division and divide it into two units, one focused on the Americas and another focused on the rest of the world. © Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald Business Day (South Africa): Royal Dutch Shell said to be planning job cuts LONDON Royal Dutch Shell would today announce its plans to cut about 15% of the jobs in its core exploration and production unit, a Shell protest website reported on Friday. An announcement on restructuring the unit, which generates most of Shells profit, was due today, website Royaldutchshellplc.com said, citing sources inside the oil major. Shell declined to comment. In May, Europes largest oil company by market value said it planned to restructure its exploration division and divide it into two units, one focused on the Americas and another focused on the rest of the world. Since then, new CE Peter Voser has announced hundreds of job cuts across the company as it struggles with plunging revenue after oil price futures collapsed from a record above 147 a barrel in July last year. On Thursday, Standard and Poors lowered its long-term rating on Shell to AA from AA+, citing concerns about its cash flows. The website did not say how many jobs would be affected. Finanmagru (Russia) |
| Reuters syndicated article: “Shell to cut jobs in core exploration unit-website” published on 4 September 2009 by numerous sources including: –
Reuters: UPDATE 1-Shell to cut jobs in core exploration unit-website Geld.de (Germany) (rp online) LONDON, Sept 4 (Reuters) – Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSa.L) is planning job cuts of around 15 percent in its core exploration and production unit, a Shell protest website reported on Friday, citing sources inside the oil major. An announcement on a restructuring of the unit, which generates most of Shell’s profit, is due on Monday, website Royaldutchshellplc.com said. Shell declined comment. In May, Europe’s largest oil company by market value said it planned to restructure its exploration division and divide it into two units, one focused on the Americas and another focused on the rest of the world. Since, then new Chief Executive Peter Voser has announced hundreds of job cuts across the company as it struggles with plunging revenues after oil prices collapsed from a record above $147/barrel in July 2008. On Thursday, ratings agency Standard and Poors lowered its long-term rating on Shell to “AA” from “AA+”, citing concerns about its cash flows. The website did not say how many jobs would likely be affected by the plan. (Editing by David Cowell) |
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