Jean-Jack Queyranne, president of the Rhône-Alpes region (F), where around 500 of the 1,250 employees of the pharmaceutical company Merck Serono who have lost their jobs reside, expressed solidarity with those affected and concern about the brain drain in the biotechnology sector. This is indicated in a statement by Queyranne himself released today.
Biotechnology accounts for around 28,000 jobs in the Rhône-Alpes. The Region, its president promises, will fight. It will contact the major global groups in the sector gravitating around the Lyon pole (F) to promote the Rhône-Alpes and the Geneva region.
ats extension June 21, 2012 
Merck Serono: strike suspended
Merck Serono employees, meeting in general meeting, today decided to suspend the strike until Tuesday. They thus intend to increase the chances of success of the mediation of the Geneva State Council.
The cantonal "minister" François Longchamp (PLR), head of the Department of Solidarity and Employment, has in fact invited the two parties, the management of Merck Serono on one side and the union and personnel representatives on the other, to renegotiate the social plan.
About 300 employees then gathered in front of the company and headed in procession towards the city center to raise awareness among the population and political authorities.
Next Tuesday the staff will decide on a new one
