Stellantis will pay an extra 1,400 euros on average in October to most of its French employees to tackle inflation, but will not raise wages, the car group said on Tuesday after a final meeting with unions.
The group, which has recorded excellent economic results, will pay 1,000 euros of “value distribution bonus” to its employees who earn up to double the Smic, or 60% of the workforce, including temporary workers. Those who earn more than double the minimum wage will receive 500 euros.
All employees will be able to monetize up to 3 days of RTT, or 400 euros on average for a worker and 600 euros for a manager. The group also made the proposal “for an agreement regarding the early release of profit sharing and participation.”
Disappointed Unions
Strikes had multiplied in recent days in the French factories of Stellantis, in Hordain, Douvrin or Valenciennes, to demand measures to improve purchasing power. In particular, the CGT requested a general increase of 400 euros per month for everyone, as well as a purchasing power bonus of 6,000 euros.
Beyond salary issues, the issue of working conditions also fueled employee anger, with non-working days decided at the last minute due to supply problems.
Stellantis management also proposed to the unions on Tuesday an agreement on early release of participation and profit sharing, and mandatory annual negotiations (NAO) that would start in December 2022 for the following year. Last February, the NAO 2022 ended with a global salary 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.
The total sums paid in 2022 for purchasing power support represent up to 1,965 euros, Stellantis noted.
“The increase in wages is a necessity, the problem of purchasing power and inflation will not be solved with bonuses. It is not the distribution of profits that must ensure the maintenance of purchasing power, it is the revaluation of salaries”, the CFDT recalls for its part in a press release.
“The salary continues to be the calculation reference for unemployment, sickness, retirement. The associated contributions make it possible to operate our unemployment insurance, our health insurance, our mutual, our forecast contract, our pension plan. The failure of salary negotiations is repeated “, continues the text.
What bonuses in Renault?
For its part, Renault offered last week from a bonus of 500 euros, as well as the possibility of monetizing three days of RTT with a 25% increase, a transport bonus of 100 euros and free medical insurance for three months.
These bonuses would mean more than 1,000 euros for most employees, AFP wrote last Thursday, citing concordant sources, explaining that “the calculation of the aid allows favoring the lowest remuneration, as a percentage of salary.”
These offers, which still need to be ratified by the representative organizations, are independent of the mandatory annual negotiations for 2023 that will take into account the rate of inflation during the year 2022, the same source specified.
FO shop steward Mariette Rih welcomed a management approach that “for us ticked all the boxes”.
Several French companies have taken steps to support the purchasing power of their employees. Air France, last week, had granted a 5% salary increase to all its employees, along with a bonus of 1,000 euros.
Source: BFM TV
