Employees of the automotive supplier Dumarey On Tuesday, Powerglide announced the resumption of work at its Strasbourg plant, after 11 days of a strike called following the announcement of the loss of 248 jobs, having obtained an improvement in severance conditions. The plant had been completely blocked on November 8, and the picket line has been maintained ever since, with employees demanding an improvement in accompanying measures.
After discussions “very tense between the parties”the envelope for social and economic plan (PSE) measures “has been increased from 60 million to 75 million euros, and is guaranteed for all 584 employees for an indefinite period in the event of further restructuring”.said employee representatives in a press release. “We were able to secure the conditions of departure and put our wishes on the table by being face to face with the shareholder.”Laurent Julien, CFDT secretary of the Social and Economic Committee (CSE), told AFP. “We’ll never be serene because we know there may be more layoffs in January, but at least everyone will be able to leave with their heads held high having fought for their rights.”he added.
Production employees back at work “by accepting the supra-legal indemnity”.which allows them to leave “with a sum of between 20,650 and 50,650 euros, depending on seniority in the company”.said the union. A bonus of 1,500 euros will also be paid to employees for the end of the conflict. Other points of the PSE are still under discussion. A first wave of 248 redundancies is due to take place on January 25, but employees fear that the Strasbourg plant will have to close down completely in the following months.
Dumarey Powerglide, which belongs to the Belgian Dumarey Group (formerly Punch), produces components and gearboxes for various automotive suppliers, including Germany’s ZF, itself a supplier to BMW. Until a few weeks ago, the company was producing 1,550 gearboxes a day for ZF, for internal combustion vehicles. But ZF has announced the end of its gearbox orders, effective August 30, causing the site to lose 85% of its sales, according to the trade union.