French metalworking union CFE-CGC says Renault is to consider its suggestion for the Fonderie du Poitou Aluminium (FPA) site to supply the automaker with an increase to between 900,000 and 1m cylinder heads per year this Friday (20 January).
The FPA was recently at the heart of a bitter industrial dispute surrounding what the union claimed was a request from owners Montupet for a huge pay cut of 25% but is now in receivership seeking new owners – and increased business from its current weekly supply of 10,000 cylinder heads.
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Renault’s internal meeting on Friday follows a dizzying round of political lobbying by CFE-CGC, whose officials met French President Nicolas Sarkozy last week at the foot of his aircraft steps in Poitiers, as well as a gaggle of senior politicians.
The Presidential encounter in turn seems to have led to Industry Minister Eric Besson, becoming involved, while previous Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin and former socialist Presidential candidate for 2012, Segolene Royale, have also taken an interest in a bid to resolve the foundry issue.
“What we have asked is we have a guarantee of at least 900,000 – 1m cylinder heads every year for Renault and Peugeot,” CFE-CGC main union official Alex Jamain told just-auto from France.
“We will have the [meeting] results Friday evening…where they will talk about volumes for 2013/2014. We are asking Renault for more volume than they were predicting before.”
As well as the increase in production, the union is also seeking to diversify into other manufacturing areas such as aeronautics and foodstuffs. It estimates around half of the FPA’s current site could be devoted to non-automotive business as it looks to secure work for its 460 staff, following the bitter two month strike towards the end of last year.
The union detailed the extraordinary lengths to which it has gone to make its views known, not the least of which was having a two-minute meeting with Sarkozy at the foot of his aircraft last week.
“With Sarkozy it was two minutes, but it was long,” said Jamain. “In two minutes he retraced the situation – we discussed with him at the bottom of the aircraft steps at Poitiers.
“He [Sarkozy] knows the dossier and told us ‘don’t worry’ – I know about this…I will not let you fall.'”
However, the talks have been likely laced with urgency given the fact the union says Renault will pay salaries for January and February, but that there appears to be uncertainty hanging over future wages.
“We can’t continue to do that permanently,” said Jamain. “What we are waiting for is Renault gives a strong sign to diversify into other areas.
“We have the means to do it at FPA, to make and design a product. We have the means to design a product and industrialise it.”
This year sees Presidential elections in France, with politicans anxious to appear willing to help the jobs sector.
Renault was not immediately available for comment.
