Around fifty employees from the paper and cardboard industry demonstrated this Monday morning in front of the Rochechouart sub-prefecture, as part of a national mobilization, at the call of the CGT. They are concerned about the increase in business mergers in this sector of activity and fear possible job losses.. At the heart of concerns, there is in particular the future of the DS Smith factory, which employs 260 people in Rochechouart. The group is in negotiations for a possible merger with International Paper.
5,000 to 6,000 indirect jobs linked to the paper and cardboard sector in the Saint-Junien basin
Denis Tabesse, employee of DS Smith and secretary of the local union of the CGT in St Junien, deplores the lack of visibility for the site “knowing that we are not a cardboard manufacturer, we are in luxury packaging and International Paper already had a luxury section which was abandoned.” If the merger goes through, he fears that it will threaten this activity on the Rochechouart site, or even the entire factory.
The trade unionist points out that other companies in this sector of activity have already laid off or closed sites recently across France. He also wonders about the future of Smurfit Kappa in Saillat-sur-Vienne, because the group seems to be losing interest in its smaller factories. So many uncertainties looming as a threat to the Saint-Junien employment areawho counts “1,760 paper and cardboard employees and 5,000 to 6,000 induced jobs” underlines Denis Tabesse. After a meeting with elected officials from the sector this Monday evening, an interview was planned for Tuesday with the sub-prefect of Rochechouart.
