Valéo management announced this Wednesday, November 27, the elimination of 238 positions at the Saint-Quentin-Fallavier (Isère) site, mainly affecting research and development activities. Employees, worried about the future, fear a complete closure of the factory.
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Hard blow for Valéo employees in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, in Isère. After several months of waiting and uncertainty, management announced this Wednesday, November 27, the elimination of 238 positions on the Isère site. This decision is part of a global plan aimed at reducing the automotive supplier's workforce by 868 positions on its eight French sites.
“On July 15, there was a social movement with the employees. Just before the summer holidays, management announced that they were looking for a buyer. Today, they are clear: they want to let go of at least 238 people “, worries Hassan Boujmet, South Industry union delegate.
The social plan mainly targets research and development (R&D) activities. “They want to part with 117 people employed in research and development, which nevertheless constitutes Valéo’s flagship in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier,” laments Hassan Boujmet.
Indeed, the site is renowned in France for its expertise in the development of electrical equipment. It produced starters before gradually converting to hybridization systems – an electric motor with its electronic system. But this technology “did not meet its market” and the factory has no more orders.
I have been working for Valéo for 14 years. With all our colleagues, we give our all, we fight for our livelihood.
Salim Douffi, workshop technician at Valéo.
With the elimination of these positions, the Isère factory will be transformed into a small production unit, far from its laudatory past in R&D. The objective for management? Centralize all research and development activities in Asia and France. “We are going to become a production unit which will depend on Sainte-Florine, in Haute-Loire. We will be managed by people who do not know us,” worries Salim Douffi, workshop technician. The Sainte-Florine site is also affected by this job protection plan (PSE) with the reduction of 80 positions.
In other services in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, management has announced a voluntary departure plan which should concern 36 people in production (direct labor) and intends to eliminate 71 positions in the structures bringing together executives and administrative staff.
If the total closure of the site had been considered in July by Valéo management, the drastic reduction in staff numbers now aims to maintain activity in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier with 70 employees compared to 312 so far.
Although the site intends to maintain minimal activity, the announcement of the elimination of positions amplifies the concern among employees: “I've been working for Valéo for 14 years. With all my colleagues, we give our all, we fight for our livelihood. And yesterday, we learned that in the production department where I work, we are going to lose 36 jobs, but we don't know how it will be distributed. The company announced that it wanted volunteers. asks Salim Douffi, workshop technician.
We really think that, within 18 to 24 months, the site will be closed. The bleeding will have to be stopped at some point. And it will be by closing the site, I am convinced.
Hassan Boujmet, South Industry union delegate.
While layoffs and factory closures are increasing in France among equipment manufacturers, around forty employees of the factory located in Isère have already chosen to leave the company even before the elimination of positions, which should affect employees. longest-serving employees, according to a union.
For employees still present, “the future is very uncertain”. “We are in total limbo (…), we really think that, within 18 to 24 months, the site will be closed. The bleeding, at some point, will have to be stopped. And it will be through closure of the site, I am convinced of it”, believes Hassan Boujmet.
While waiting for the next Corporate Social Committee (CSE) scheduled for December, where Valéo employees hope to have more information on departure arrangements, the end-of-year celebrations will be held with “the lump in the stomach”.
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