They are mobilizing against a “relocation of bottling” in the words of Renaud Audidier, head of the local union of the CGT. According to the union, between 450 and 500 people were present in front of the Hennessy head office on November 19, in Cognac. A large part are employees of the company, worried after their management's announcement of its desire to attempt bottling directly on Chinese soil.
China is one of the largest markets for Cognac exports. But recently, the Asian country decided to heavily tax Charente brandyin response to the European Union's surcharge on Chinese electric cars. Relocating bottling by sending the Cognac in bulk to Asia would largely eliminate this tax for the Hennessy house.
Several hundred direct jobs threatened according to the CGT
For now, management is only talking about testing. But this is very worrying Hennessy employees, who fear being subject to large layoffs. Renaud Audidier affirms it, this could “affect around 500 direct jobs“, not to mention all the professions which would be impacted in cascade: glassmakers, printers, etc.”The entire Cognac basin will be affected” explains the union representative, who is also worried that these tests at Hennessy will give ideas to other major Cognac houses.
At midday this Tuesday, November 19, representatives of the CGT and Force Ouvrière at Hennessy were still in an extraordinary meeting with management, to find out more about these tests, and to try to negotiate.
