French unions are calling on PSA Peugeot Citroen to come up with a ‘plan B’ for its site at Aulnay, with increasing speculation the automaker may substantially downsize it.
The CFE-CGC labour body says it met PSA CEO, Philippe Varin, recently to discuss its concerns surrounding the Aulnay factory, that produces the C3 model and employs nearly 3,500 staff, with a further Works Council meeting slated for this week.
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“The CFE-CGC would rejoice if Aulnay had a future as an assembly site, but in the current uncertainty, we are asking management to study a ‘plan B,’ which would offer an employment solution to all staff,” said a statement from the union.
“The CFE-CGC is also making its intention clear it will talk to the the Industry Minister, Arnaud Montebourg, exhorting him to mobilise all the State actors in re-industrialisation efforts on the site.”
The union cites metalworking body, GIM (Groupement des Industries de la Metallurgie) as noting many staff in the field will need to be hired in the coming years, but does not say if this is specifically automobile-related.
“The CFE-CGC is also calling on local authorities to become involved, by buying the C3, a vehicle assembled at Aulnay,” added the labour body.
“The CFE-CGC remains convinced these parallel solutions are possible, associating all the actors in the Group, social partners, local authorities and the State. The importance for us is men and women be at the heart of the search for a solution.”
French Finance Minister, Pierre Moscovici and his Industry counterpart, Arnaud Montebourg, have distanced themselves from speculation PSA has put in a request for finance.
“Pierre Moscovici and Arnaud Montebourg deny the rumours, according to which PSA Peugeot Citroen has asked the government for a loan or equity participation,” said a statement from both Ministers. PSA also denies it has asked for State aid.
A spokeswoman for PSA in Paris told just-auto there was “no update on the Aulnay situation…we don’t comment on speculation.
“There is a meeting of the Works Council this Thursday (12 July) in Paris in our headquarters. [CEO Philippe] Varin meets the unions regularly.”
