Once again, the population of the Basin and the surrounding area responded in large numbers, Saturday January 22, to support the employees of the Viviez foundry.
In fact, around 3,000 people, joined by peasant and trade union delegations from nearly ten departments, found themselves, in the cold, on Saturday January 22 at the end of the morning, in front of the factory in the Prades area. . Upon arriving at the site, many purchased sculptures of the founder and “Sam” medals.
Ghislaine Gistau took stock of the situation, castigating Renault, which pushed the Sam to single industry and the government: “we are living through an injustice, a real state scandal”. The agents were not spared, them “who turned their jackets”. As for the redeployment cell, “we gave them a text explanation in the face of so much contempt”. Ghislaine continued: “They say that we pollute by staying in the factory. And doesn’t Renault pollute by having its parts manufactured by IEC, with round trips from Romania to Spain, transporting parts that each weigh 500 grams more than those we know how to make? What indecency! “.
Following, employees gave their testimonies (read below).
Then the local, departmental and regional elected officials hailed the fight of the employees who remain worthy, in a trying context, in the face of silent interlocutors. David Gistau concluded the speeches, attacking the current policy: “They have money to liquidate companies but not to restart viable alternative projects, that does not interest them, while the French foundry is running to its loss . And they know full well that we know how to produce all types of aluminum parts, a mess without name. On Wednesday January 26, a delegation from SAM will meet the prefect.
Employees present their moving testimonials
Valérie Butet, Benoît Chauchard, Sandrine Dufraisne, Maxime Malirat and Sébastien Verhnes, five ex-Sams, as we can now call them, gave their testimony and their attachment to the company, to the “country”.
“I’m not from here, but thanks to Sam, working in the design office, I blossomed and founded a family by settling in the Basin”, said Benoît. “I feel like I’m living an endless nightmare, a massive scam, it’s a deliberate choice to throw us in the trash,” exclaimed Sébastien.
“After 33 years of service, the SAM enabled me to acquire various skills. With the employees, it’s like a second family. Renault and the government betrayed us,” said Valérie.
“I had already spoken in April 2021. We are victims of an unfair relocation, those who have power and the powerful look like vultures waiting for us to be out of breath to deliver the final blow. But we will not let go, ”insisted Maxime.
Finally, Sandrine spoke last. “Nurse at Sam for a few years, I share the anger and indignation of my colleagues. We are sacrificed in the name of profit. History repeats itself in this flouted, despised territory”.