The Strasbourg plant of the automotive supplier Dumarey Powerglide, which is preparing to cut 248 jobs, was completely blocked on Friday by striking employees demanding improved support measures. “From the outset, we’ve said that employees deserve to leave with dignity, but in view of the proposals we’ve received, we’re a long way from the demands given to management.”lamented Laurent Julien, CFDT secretary of the Social and Economic Committee (CSE).

“We’re blocking all logistical flows, we’re well organized, we’re determined, we want to make ourselves heard and the picket line will be maintained until further notice, until all employees feel that we can leave with dignity with the proposed accompanying measures.”added Laurent Julien. Nothing is going in or out of the site, which is blocked by pallet fires. According to Laurent Julien, management is proposing “measures at the daisy level”.These include 10 months’ redeployment leave, and a potential extra-legal bonus of 20,000 euros per employee. “But for employees whose average age is 52, it’s unacceptable, it’s an attitude of contempt towards employees.”says Laurent Julien.

“We’re asking for 100 million euros for the plant’s 584 employees”.insists the representative. He fears that after the 248 employees are laid off on January 25, the Strasbourg plant will have to close down completely in the following months. “From January 25, 248 employees will be made redundant, many with little training, level 1 machinists. But when you see how difficult it is to turn around in the current economic climate in industry, when you see all the equipment manufacturers in difficulty, you wonder how we’re going to be able to hold out in this crisis.”he notes. All the elected members of the CSE have called for an extraordinary meeting next Wednesday.

Dumarey Powerglide, which belongs to the Belgian Dumarey group (formerly Punch), produces components and gearboxes for various automotive suppliers, including the German ZF, itself a supplier to BMW. Until a few weeks ago, the Strasbourg-based company was producing 1,550 gearboxes a day for ZF, destined for internal combustion vehicles. But ZF has announced the end of its gearbox orders, as of August 30, causing the site to lose 85% of its sales, according to the trade union. Contacted by AFP, the company did not immediately respond.