Valeo staff in Suze-sur-Sarthe are occurring strike to save lots of their jobs, whereas the way forward for the automotive trade in Europe stays unsure on account of competitors and downsizing.
Dozens of funeral crosses line the highway resulting in the manufacturing facility owned by auto elements large Valeo in northwestern France.
Each bears the names of the almost 300 staff who danger dropping their jobs within the coming weeks.
Workers on the Suze-sur-Sarthe plant, in a area the place the automotive trade is significant to the native economic system, have been on strike since Monday night.
The website primarily produces battery cooling methods for electrical automobiles for the automotive large Stellantishomeowners of Opel, Fiat, Peugeot, Citroën and different manufacturers.
Two different factories throughout France are additionally getting ready to closure, doubtlessly impacting 1,000 employees.
The impending announcement is a continuing supply of stress and anxiousness for workers.
“We noticed many individuals crying, some even breaking down,” stated Odile Nasarre, a supplies engineer and union consultant.
“There had been additionally some who determined to depart as a result of they did not wish to see the end result. There are a dozen {couples} right here. It will affect many households,” he informed Euronews.
The staff determined to submit paper crosses on the manufacturing facility gates.
Didier, analysis and improvement engineer, exhibits us his cross the place he has scribbled the years 1991-2025, symbolizing 34 years of labor at Valeo.
“It all ends on a little bit of a bitter observe,” he defined, pointing to the unhappy face he drew subsequent to the dates.
At 57, he does not suppose redevelopment is within the books if the manufacturing facility closes.
“The common age within the institution is 53. With the assorted unemployment and pension reforms, persons are in a scenario the place they must work one other seven to eight years earlier than they will retire,” Franck stated Goulette, central consultant of the union. in Valeo.
“Many ask themselves: ‘What will I do? Unemployment advantages won’t final till I can retire. “This is a giant concern for workers,” he informed Euronews.
In 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron signed an settlement extremely unpopular pension reformwhich raised the state pension age from 62 to 64.
ANNOUNCEMENTFalling automobile gross sales, firms like Valeo on the lookout for low-cost labor overseas and the European Commission’s purpose to modify to totally electrical automobiles by 2035 are inflicting a disaster within the automotive sector in France and throughout the EU.
Since 2012 there have been 70,000 jobs been lost within the automotive sector in France.
Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares stated final week he didn’t rule out manufacturing facility closures within the coming months, citing stiff competitors from Chinese rivals as a significant concern.
In Germany, the primary European automobile producer is Volkswagen contemplating the closure one among its manufacturing websites: the primary in nearly 90 years.
ANNOUNCEMENTThe European Commission is considering it imposing heavy tariffs on low-cost Chinese electrical automobiles.
Many employees on the Valeo plant ponder whether the automotive trade has a future in Europe.
“In 2000 there have been 2,000 of us right here. Today we’re lower than 300. In the longer term will there be many people nonetheless working within the automotive trade? This is the large query”, signed Odile Nasarre.
Euronews contacted Valeo however the firm refused to reply any questions.
ANNOUNCEMENTThe destiny of the three factories is predicted to be determined by mid-December.
