By Philbert Shih, theWHIR.com
April 20, 2005 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- Nearly the entire staff for European Web hosting provider Amen (amenworld.com) has been on strike since its parent company Via Net.Works announced early last week that it had been acquired by Claranet (claranet.com), according to the blog amenengreve.info (amenengreve.info/en/).
Following the announcement, employees at Amenworld turned to the company's president Dick Theunissen for information about their status. But, according to the striking employees, he was not able to provide any details.
The founders of Amenworld say they were not invited to the negotiations between Via and Claranet. And on April 14, Olivier Ruffin, CTO for Amen, was reportedly fired for alerting colleagues to the risks of the takeover. The next day, Amen’s founders were dismissed as well.
Representatives for Amen's staff say they continued to press for information about their status.
According to a blog posting made April 12, "Despite repeated meetings between Via Networks and Amen representatives Via Networks, has to date, failed to provide any information on the nature of the business plan and the continuity of employment."
A strike action was taken on April 14.
"The staff at Amenworld refuse to accept this situation insisting that other options are available and fully workable for all concerned," the blog read. "This strike action is held with the specific aim of obtaining real concrete guarantees in writing, from both Via Networks and Claranet. Amen staff representatives have requested a meeting with the CEO of Claranet and Via Networks in order to obtain written guarantees of the future of Amen and its employees."
On April 15, Theunissen reportedly arranged a meeting with Claranet set for April 18, however it was subsequently cancelled on April 17. The meeting was to discuss the employment situation and Claranet's plans for Amen.
Then on April 18, frustrated Amen employees went directly to the Claranet France head office in Paris in order to meet with Claranet CEO Charless Nasser. Amen representatives say they met with Nasser but did not receive any employment guarantees. According to an anonymously-submitted press release, Claranet said that it had not yet decided on Amen's future and would not continue with the takeover if the situation continues to deteriorate.
Since the meeting, say Amen representatives, no progress has been made. Ray Walsh, CEO of Via was in Paris but did not make contact with the strikers. On April 20, strikers went to Via's Paris offices to meet with Walsh. A meeting has been set up for April 21.
To date, 100 percent of Amenworld UK and Amen Spain is on strike and 90 percent of customer service representatives at Amen France are on strike.
According to the blog, customer support has been at a standstill at Amen UK and Amen Spain since the strike began. Customer sites remain online and automated systems are still accepting payments for new orders and renewals. The situation at Amen France is the same, the blog said.
None of the Amen Web sites have posted information about the situation. Claranet UK declined to offer further comment on the situation.
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