Should we work on a European industrial strategy, as advocated by the Minister Delegate for Industry, Marc Ferracci? Or rather demand accountability from companies that have received public aid, as suggested by Sophie Binet and Marylise Léon, general secretaries of the CGT and CFDT respectively? Should the State block the approval of certain social plans, as François Ruffin, deputy for the Somme, argues?
The cascading announcement, since November 5, of the closure of two Michelin factories in Cholet (Maine-et-Loire) and Vannes – i.e. 1,254 employees – of a social plan at Auchan, which is preparing to eliminate 2,389 jobs, then the bankruptcy of the chemist Vencorex, threatening some 500 jobs, raised a wave of concern in the country. At the end of this dark week, political leaders and trade unionists are wondering about the answers to be given to avoid hemorrhage on the social front.
Because, on the facts, no one seems to have any illusions. During the three years following the Covid-19 pandemic, businesses, helped by the loan guaranteed by the State, the various aid granted during confinements and the relative good health of the economy at the time, hired a lot and few licensed.
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But now the horizon is darkening and difficulties are piling up. “There will probably be announcements of site closures in the coming weeks and months”declared Mr. Ferracci, Saturday November 9, on France Inter, referring to the possible destruction of “thousands of jobs”. “We are at the beginning of a violent industrial bloodletting”continued the next day Mme Binet, from the CGT, in the weekly La Tribune Sundaycalling into question the desire of companies to “always increase margins” and of “distribute ever more profit to shareholders”.
The confederation has already drawn up a list of social plans in preparation, “which is close to 200”she assures. The central union called for a day of mobilizations in all regions, on December 12. Mme Binet also wishes “that a company cannot receive state aid if the opinion of staff representatives is unfavorable”. A point on which Mme Léon, his CFDT counterpart, agrees. “It seems strange to me that the State does not know what the aid that is allocated is used for: we are talking about hundreds of millions of euros,” she declared on Franceinfo, Friday November 8. These statements received a rather warm reception from Mr. Ferracci. “If the aid is not effective overall, then the aid must be stopped,” he admitted on France Inter.
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