PSA Peugeot Citroen says production is continuing normally at its Aulnay plant near Paris, despite threats coming today (6 September) from France’s largest union of potential industrial action.
The Confederation Generale du Travail (CGT) is raising the possibility of industrial action following PSA’s decision to axe the Aulnay plant and cut up to 8,000 jobs in a bid to turn around the automaker’s fortunes which currently see the company burning EUR200m (US$253m) per month.
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Unions have convened a general assembly on 11 September to discuss the restructuring plan, with the French government also releasing a report on the same day into the impact such a massive closure would have.
“Production is going on normally today, the plant is working normally,” a PSA spokeswoman told just-auto from Paris.
“It [report] is from the government – we are not really in talks. Maybe we will make a comment, it depends on what is in the report, we are waiting for it.”
PSA said it “would respect” the French legal process with the closure plans for Aulnay, while confirming a Works Council comprising several unions would be meeting to discuss the issue.
Aulnay producing the C3 model, employs more than 3,000 people and the CGT has wasted no time following the general French return to work after the summer holidays to flex its industrial muscles.
“I am convinced there will be action, there will have to be action,” CGT union official, Jean-Pierre Mercier told just-auto from France. “I can’t put myself in the line of 3,000 workers, but a general assembly will decide it.”
French President, Francois Hollande recently voiced his “shock” at PSA’s plans, noting they were unacceptable in their current form.
