PSA Peugeot-Citroen’s factory at Aulnay is thought to be restarting work tomorrow (21 May) after a bitter four-month strike protesting against its closure next year that unions claim has cost almost 40,000 vehicles.
A deal inked between PSA and its hardline union, the CGT, says the end of the strike was set for 17 May, but as today is a public holiday in France, albeit not one observed by everyone, it appears work should resume at the Paris factory tomorrow.
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A rump of a few hundred strikers has caused chaos at the Aulnay plant, producing C3 models and forced PSA to transfer around 340 staff to its Poissy site in a bid to soak up the production loss.
Despite signing the deal, the CGT has nonetheless chosen to end the walk-out with some fiery rhetoric against the automaker and the French government, insisting Aulnay’s shuttering was “a real social mess, which will have disastrous consequences for the region.”
The closing of Aulnay is part of PSA’s wide-ranging restructuring programme looking to stem losses, that will also see up to 8,000 jobs cut in France.
“For four months, hundreds of workers have succeeded in holding back PSA management, whose main shareholder, the Peugeot family, is one of the richest and most powerful in France,” said a CGT statement. “Against them, the strikers have also had the government…which has mobilised the State against the strike.
“The extraordinary support of tens of thousands of [other] workers is astonishing proof this strike was right. All the strikers would like to thank the workers who supported them and allowed them to hold out. Striking remains the best weapon of the workers.”
PSA acknowledged a deal had been inked with the CGT and pointed to an earlier agreement with its five other unions, the CFDT, CFTC, CFE-CGC, FO and GSEA labour bodies.
The automaker added CGT had agreed to drop its appeal lodged against the Group’s restructuring plan and objections to redundancy proposals, while striking staff would not be compensated for the 17-week walk-out.
“Ending a strike is a long and difficult process,” said PSA EVP president of human resources, Philippe Dorge, “but it also comes with the satisfaction of returning to dialogue with employees.
“More than ever, we are focused on moving ahead with the employee redeployment process, with a commitment to finding a solution for each individual.
“What we need to do now is work as a unit to turn the Group around, with a new social contract we will build together.”
CGT union delegate, Jean-Pierre Mercier, claimed on French television the strike had cost PSA nearly 40,000 vehicles. “Yes, they have paid a heavy price during this strike,” he said.
PSA and the CGT were not immediately available for comment from France.
