Several factories of the Stellantis group in France have been affected by strike movements since Friday to demand purchasing power measures, while a meeting on the issue with management is scheduled for Tuesday, September 27.
The first site to move was that of Hordain (North) where since Friday “about 500 people” are mobilized every day, or “150 workers per team,” according to union sources.
“Production is paralyzed” in this factory that manufactures small utility vehicles such as the Peugeot Expert, says Jean-Pierre Mercier, a union figure for the group who presents himself as a spokesman for CGT Stellantis.
The Douvrin (Pas-de-Calais) engine plant slowed down for two hours on Saturday morning, again according to the CGT.
And on Monday morning, it was in Valenciennes (North), in the gearbox factory, where about sixty workers stopped working.
The CGT claims a “general increase for all of 400 euros per month” as well as a purchasing power bonus of 6,000 euros.
8,000 million euros in profits
The union has called for a strike in all the group’s factories “because the wage discussion with the management is going to be an arm wrestling match, we can ensure that the mobilization increases, that is the time to start,” said Mr Mercier.
The management invited all trade union organizations to address the issue of purchasing power on September 27.
“The results of the first semester (8,000 million euros of profit) should allow all employees to be granted an exceptional bonus,” said the CFE-CGC in a press release.
In February, the Mandatory Annual Negotiations (NAO) resulted in an overall wage increase of 3.2%.
All the unions had refused to sign this agreement, considering the gesture insufficient in view of the company’s record results and despite the granting of a profit-sharing premium of 4,300 euros on average.
Beyond wage issues, the issue of working conditions also fuels the anger of employees, says Frédéric Lemaytch, the CFTC’s central union representative.
“When flexibility is taken to the maximum it becomes difficult,” he stresses, denouncing non-working days decided at the last minute due to supply problems.
A strike call was also launched for Tuesday morning at the Sochaux (Doubs) site, which manufactures the Peugeot 3008 and 5008 SUVs.
Asked by AFP, Stellantis implicitly acknowledged strikes in the factories mentioned by union sources, without giving figures on the number of strikers.
Management acknowledges that the last two years have been difficult for employees between Covid-19 and the semiconductor crisis, but “there was a commitment in June to make an appointment in September to open a meeting on salaries, that was done.” a spokeswoman for the group responded.
Source: BFM TV
