2023-10-05 20:30:00
The anger of Marelli employees does not weaken. The strike was widely followed on Thursday at the Marelli factory in Argentan (Orne) the day following the announcement by the automobile supplier Marelli of a job protection plan (PSE). 170 jobs are thus threatened. “ There were 165 strikers out of 167 employees at the Argentan site today », confirmed the management.
“Deindustrialization was indeed an ideological decision” (Anne-Sophie Alsif, economist)
For Jean-Philippe Fresny, trade unionist at the CGT in Argentan, there was a “ devastating effect yesterday, transformed into anger. The decision to close is completely unjustified economically and humanly. We need the support of the State and to negotiate the most socially acceptable exit ». « I am demoralised. When the announcement was made, I saw men and women crying. Argentan is becoming a dormitory town », says Karim Touati, 60 years old, line fitter, who has worked at Marelli for 25 years.
Another factory closed in Yonne
The company also announced Wednesday in a press release the closure of the factory in Saint-Julien-du-Sault (Yonne), threatening “ 125 positions “. The Yonne factory was affected in November 2021 by a strike, when employees already feared – rightly – a closure of the site where high-end rear headlights for cars are manufactured. At the start of the year, employees went on strike for three weeks, following discovering elements at the end of 2022 that made them fear a relocation of the factory’s activities, particularly to Slovakia.
The social movement had reached an agreement with management guaranteeing them a one-year reprieve, where three other avenues, including that of a potential buyer, were mentioned, according to a representative of the inter-union joined. “ These three avenues fell through, we learned in July that the buyer was throwing in the towel », specifies the same source, “ however, we thought we would be protected until the beginning of 2024, thanks to the agreement ».
A site in losses according to management
In Argentan, management ensures that “ between 2018 and 2022, the site generated a cumulative loss of more than 28 million euros. And the European car market is compressing. Today, out of eight cars purchased, only one is new and seven are used. “. According to management, the search for a buyer continues.
“Reindustrialization will first and foremost involve a revival of local industry” (David Lisnard)
Marelli introduces himself as ” one of the world’s leading independent suppliers to the automotive sector “. The company has nearly 50,000 employees worldwide, across 170 sites and research and development centers across Asia, the Americas, Europe and Africa.
(with AFP)
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