Laurence Garnier, the Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs, announced on Monday that she wanted to sell the magazine to a private group. Last May, however, Bercy implemented a plan to revive the title.
Paris, June 25, 2024. During the launch of the summer sales at Galeries Lafayette, employees of “60 million consumers” demonstrate against possible privatization. Photo Bruno Levesque/IP3 PRESS/MAXPPP
By Etienne Labrunie
Published on November 19, 2024 at 2:36 p.m.
VFriday, November 15, astonishment gripped the staff representatives of 60 Million consumers. They have just learned from Laurence Garnier, the Secretary of State to the Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industry, responsible for consumption, that their newspaper would finally be for sale. An announcement made public on Monday. « The sustainability of the title requires a professional buyer and expert in the sector, capable in particular of investing in digital and driving a new marketing and commercial strategy,” communicated the office of Laurence Garnier.
Thunderclap and Trafalgar for employees who expected to negotiate a recovery and transformation plan, supporting investment (3.2 million euros), in accordance with the agreement obtained last May with Olivia Grégoire , their previous interlocutor at Bercy. “This plan was unanimously adopted by the board of directors in September,” confide the still stunned staff representatives. In a press release, Olivia Grégoire was moved by this decision: “I bitterly regret that the arbitration that I was able to obtain was not maintained. » She addressed her “Thoughts to the INC employees, as well as to the consumers whom they have always endeavored to inform as best they can”.
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Added to the astonishment is incomprehension since, during a first interview on October 30, Laurence Garnier had asked for time “to carefully consider the situation”. Fifteen days later, « eShe announces the plan to sell the newspaper, without providing a response to elected officials on the terms of sale, the fate of the staff and the consequences for the INC, for consumers and consumer associations. the employees are offended.
The announcement and its timing are all the more surprising given that staff had been mobilizing for several months to propose a credible backup plan. “Let’s save 60 Million consumers », he proclaimed in an appeal in March to denounce the cuts in subsidies (halved in five years). The newspaper dedicated to consumer defense, without advertising, also underwent a social plan in 2021 (eleven departures). Created in 1970, it was linked to the National Consumer Institute (INC), a public establishment founded in 1966 and responsible for providing good information to consumers. To do this, INC engineers are multiplying comparative tests of products and services including 60 Millions, which employs around fifty people, echoed.
A plan to diversify activities
But the fall in sales (76,000 copies in 2024 compared to 140,000 in 2019) widened the magazine's deficit. An audit carried out by the Ministry of the Economy and Finance estimated it at between six and ten million euros at the end of 2023. To remedy this, the employees proposed a scenario worked with the association Un bout des medias (led by the economist Julia Cagé). Their proposal: diversify the activities of the 60 Millions de consommateurs brand with educational missions (in continuation of the launch of their junior magazine) and the multiplication of partnerships for in-depth studies and surveys. All with the support of thirteen approved consumer associations. “We propose in particular to launch a weekly newsletter of legal and legislative news to meet a consumer need », confided in March to Telerama Lionel Maugain, union delegate.
An information mission of general interest and consumer defense that the government did not consider profitable enough. “The stock is facing major difficulties and a persistent deficit for seven years, which has exhausted its cash flow, justified the cabinet of Laurence Garnier, This change in the status of the magazine will also contribute to optimizing the use of public funds. » A clear cut in times of extreme savings, notwithstanding its negative symbolic significance. “Will the first Secretary of State exclusively dedicated to consumption sound the death knell for the National Consumer Institute? What will become 60 Million consumers without engineers, lawyers, economists… All these trades who have worked for the newspaper for a long time? What will become of the INC without its main media? » the staff representatives responded. The latter appeal to Michel Barnier and demand a return to the safeguard plan proposed by Olivia Grégoire.
