Marc Ferracci, visiting Michelin in Cholet, copiously booed by employees

POLICY – Travel under tension. Coming to the Michelin site in Cholet (Maine-et-Loire) this Friday, November 8, the Minister of Industry Marc Ferracci was verbally attacked by angry employees after the announcement of the closure of the site by the band. He quickly left the scene, the unions said.

Venu “to be in contact with and support employees who are experiencing a human tragedy”Marc Ferracci finally stayed “three minutes” in front of the factory leaving the premises shortly before 1:00 p.m. after a tense exchange, unionists said. The statement of the minister, who called on « engagements » of the State, provoked cries of indignation: “You are not welcome”, “you are leading us astray”can we hear in the exchange captured by Oxygène Radio. “No one will be left behind”assured Marc Ferracci, before the boos intensified. “ Government action is before we want it,” said an employee.

After the departure of the minister, several hundred employees marched in the industrial zone of Cholet, chanting “50 years to wear us out, 5 minutes to fire us” or “Bibendum is beautiful, always money before men”. From the start of the morning, tires were set on fire in front of the Michelin site, with banners or inscriptions on the walls evoking the “broken lives” and the “years of toiling to get thrown away”. “Thank you for a great Christmas! “, quipped the approximately 900 “children of Michelin” in Cholet, receiving many signs of encouragement from passers-by.

Barnier wants “explanations” from Michelin

The Macronist deputy for Cholet Denis Masséglia, himself insulted on Friday by certain angry employees, said he understood these “people who expressed their suffering” by attacking the Minister of Industry. “The State must support them but Michelin must take its responsibilities”he said.

Marc Ferracci insisted on “compensation that is dignified, with substantial amounts” and priority reclassifications in the Cholet employment area. “No, Mr. Ferracci, we are not here to fight for a check, we are here to fight for jobs”replied the general secretary of the CGT, Sophie Binet, who came in the morning to meet employees on the Vannes site where some 300 jobs are also in the spotlight. In total, more than 1,250 jobs are at risk by 2026.

During the question session to the government on November 5, Prime Minister Michel Barnier assured that he was not “iron” choices of Michelin and Auchan “destroy jobs”. He subsequently demanded explanations on the use by these groups of “the public money that we gave them”.

Along the same lines, environmentalist and rebellious deputies also asked for the establishment of a commission of inquiry into the use of public funds. “This commission of inquiry will formulate concrete proposals to cap aid to businesses over time and carry out a review of expenditure, including with regard to the social action of the companies concerned”is written in the environmentalists' text, consulted by AFP.

Michelin indicated that it received 42 million euros from the State in 2023, mainly through the Research Tax Credit, which it considers “very important” pour “make researchers competitive”.

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