Nearly 250 social plans are in preparation in France according to the CGT, up to 200,000 jobs at risk

In “Les Echos”, the general secretary of the union, Sophie Binet, increases her estimate of the extent of the crisis, mainly in industry, and criticizes the supply policy led by Emmanuel Macron.

A social massacre to come in France? The general secretary of the CGT, Sophie Binet, warns of a “very strong acceleration of the deterioration of the situation” in terms of social plans, mainly in industry, but also in other sectors, in an interview with Echospublished Wednesday November 27. According to her, up to 200,000 jobs are threatened.

Sophie Binet now evokes “nearly 250 layoff plans in preparation, affecting between 170,000 and 200,000 jobs”according to a count made from “raisings from our activists”. Up compared to the estimate mentioned in May of 130 social plans representing 33,021 direct jobs eliminated or “highly threatened”then that, at the beginning of November, of nearly 200 social plans and 150,000 jobs affected.

This count concerns, unsurprisingly, sectors in crisis such as automobiles and aerospace, but also mass distribution, according to the head of the union center. She fears “a tidal wave” in the months to come, and cascading consequences: “These plans take place mainly in large companies, restructuring risks having consequences on small subcontractors, who are much more numerous”she warns.

Sophie Binet also takes issue with the supply-side policy pursued since Emmanuel Macron's first five-year term, “a political shipwreck”according to her. She advocates several emergency measures, such as “a return to regulated prices” energy for industry, “which takes into account the cost of production” and investments necessary for the revival of nuclear power; the establishment by Europe of customs barriers “more protective” ; but also “a strengthening of the Florange law”which requires an employer to look for a buyer in the event of a planned closure, and its extension to SMEs with 50 or more employees.