A decision that has become “inevitable” for the group due to “the structural transformation of the Passenger-Van and Heavy-Duty tire market and the deterioration of Europe's competitiveness for the benefit of the Asian market.” These two factories have been facing major economic difficulties for several years. The Cholet site, which employs 955 people, mainly manufactures light truck tires of 17 inches and less. This production represents 85% of its activity. The factory also has a workshop for semi-finished products (mainly rubber mixing). “Over the past few years, this segment of the Van market in Europe has seen a significant decline, with a drastic reduction in Cholet production volumes, which fell from around 4.375 million in 2019 to around 2.625 million in 2024, with no prospect of recovery”specifies Michelin in a press release.
Supporting the 1,254 employees
The group is committed to “support each of the employees concerned with tailor-made solutions. It will also support the two impacted territories by participating in the creation of at least as many jobs as those eliminated. » Immediately, Michelin voluntarily took the decision to stop production at the two sites until November 11 inclusive to allow management and union organizations to offer collective and individual discussions to employees. “The objective is to open a support system for employees to support them immediately following the announcement. As part of the consultation of staff representative bodies and the negotiation with trade union organizations on support measures, management sets a clear objective: at the end of the support phase, each employee will have a personalized solution”, assures Michelin. Thus, some of the employees would benefit from pre-retirement measures, others could opt for support for internal mobility. Finally, for those who would like to be supported in external professional mobility, which should concern a large majority of employees: “Specific individual support will be provided by a specialized firm, guaranteeing the obtaining of a lasting return to employment solution with in-depth work on the employability of employees (studies and personalized training courses, possibility of retraining course). In order to create the best conditions for access to a new position externally: The possibility of returning to the support system at the end of the trial period with the new employer if it does not end favorably. Compensation for a possible pay gap of up to 400 euros gross per month for 3 years »specifies Michelin in its press release.
Employees on strike
Employees at the Michelin factory in Cholet voted for a strike this Tuesday late morning, after management announced the closure of this site. “It is a spontaneous movement of anger and revolt in the face of job cuts. We will then see what the general assemblies of struggling employees will decide on the actions to be taken”Bastien You, CGT union delegate, told AFP. The employees of the Cholet factory, around 200 of whom were preventing traffic at an intersection leading to the site, around a pile of tires, blocked the factory shortly after the announcements from management, which had planned in any case to stop production until November 11. On site, the DVD mayor of Cholet, Gilles Bourdouleix, denounced “the rogue version of capitalism”. “There, obviously, the desire for years was to let the situation degenerate and then arrive at this brutal decision, and which is brutal on an economic level, but brutal, obviously, above all, on a human level”he lamented, recalling that Michelin has since “54 years in Cholet”. “So it’s iconic. And for us, it’s heartbreaking”he added.
The reaction of the President of the Region Christelle Morançais
“The announcement of the closure of the Michelin factory in Cholet is extremely hard news for employees and our region. I understand and share their emotion. I am in regular contact with the CEO of Michelin, who has made firm commitments to support employees. I also spoke with the Prime Minister and I will meet the Ministers of Economy and Industry next week. I will mobilize all our regional tools, in conjunction with Michelin and the State, to support employees. Our determination to write the future of this major industrial site for the Region and France is absolutely total. I am, of course, available to union organizations and local elected officials. More generally, this closure illustrates, once again, the terrible difficulties of French and European industry in the face of international competition. Let us have the lucidity to recognize that our industry is facing an immense competitiveness challenge, which involves urgently building other public policies, particularly at European level. »
The reaction of Florence Dabin, president of the Department
“The official announcement of the closure of the Michelin factory in Cholet is unfortunately not a surprise for those who follow this issue. This decision only confirms the fears expressed on numerous occasions. As President of the Department, I would first like to express my full support to the employees and families hit hard by this dramatic announcement. I am also thinking of the many economic players who will be directly impacted by this closure. Yesterday evening, I was able to speak with Marc Ferracci, the Minister Delegate in charge of Industry. For my part, I will be particularly vigilant as to the quality of the reconversion or reclassification measures proposed by the Michelin Group. I also hope that all possible partnerships will be activated to support employees. Finally, I am available to discuss with the various interlocutors involved in this matter. In the past, this territory has demonstrated its capacity for resilience and rebound. The Department will obviously stand alongside all those who will work for this renaissance. »
“A radical decision which calls for ambitious measures to limit the impact for employees and the region”
“This factory for producing tires for utility and passenger vehicles established in Cholet in 1970 is a key player in the economic fabric and
employment dynamics of the department. More than a factory, it is an institution for the Choletais”estimates Philippe Chopin, Prefect of Maine-et-Loire. He says he regrets “ profoundly the decision of the Michelin Group to close the Cholet site. This decision, which results from Michelin's own choices, calls for an exemplary support plan from the group for employees and the territories concerned, as the group has been able to do previously. In recent hours, the Prefect of Maine-et-Loire has spoken with the main elected officials of the territory concerned. Everyone notes the violence of this decision for the employees and the territory”. The Prefect assured them that the State services will be extremely vigilant on the quality of these measures, so that they ensure the reclassification and retraining of employees, on the one hand, and that they meet the obligations in terms of search for buyer, revitalization and revitalization. As such, the Prefect of the Pays de la Loire region and the Prefect of Maine-et-Loire ask Michelin to conduct exemplary social dialogue with the social partners in compliance with the information and consultation procedure of the Social and Social Committees. economic in order to achieve the signing of method agreements and Employment Protection Plans. They ask Michelin to very closely involve all regional stakeholders in all these employee reclassification and regional revitalization initiatives (local elected officials, local authorities, industrialists, consular chambers, economic development agencies, etc.). At the request of the Prefect of Maine-et-Loire, these messages will be passed by the sub-prefect of Cholet, Corinne Minot, to representatives of the MICHELIN Group, today, at the sub-prefecture of Cholet, in the presence of the Departmental Management of Employment, Labor and Solidarity (DDETS) of Maine-et-Loire. “In the coming months, I will be extremely vigilant, with the support of the competent decentralized State services, to the active, concrete and efficient implementation of all measures likely to limit the social and territorial impact of this project closures. This file will be followed with the greatest attention by the Ministers of Economy and Industry to whom Michelin will have to report on the means implemented and the results obtained. »
With AFP
