St-Auban workers strike as Arkema and unions seek resolution

PARIS (CNI)--Workers at Arkema’s Saint-Auban site are on strike once more today, Thursday, in protest against the company’s restructuring plan, while management and the Central Workers Committee meet to attempt to reach a resolution to the dispute.

 

The restructuring would affect up to 380 jobs at Saint-Auban in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region of France out of a total of 548 across the company’s vinyl products business.

 

At today’s Central Workers Committee meeting, Arkema will put forward an improved scheme designed to save 39 jobs at the site.

 

Arkema spokesman Gilles Galinier told CNI that the saving in jobs would be achieved through a six-month reduction in the retirement age. Furthermore, the logistics division would be retained on the site rather than outsourcing the services, as would some production. An additional facility to treat waste would also be created.

 

He said that Arkema will invest Euro4m ($5.2m) in addition to the Euro39m already committed to help complete a number of projects in the Saint-Auban area.

 

Michel Gogail of the CGT trade union told CNI that strikes ranging from four to 24 hours have been called for today at other Arkema sites including Lacq, Saint-Fons, Villers-Saint-Paul, Carling, Maurienne, Pierre-Bénite and Fos.

 

Gogail suggested that the Sanofi site at Sisteron, near Saint-Auban, would take 15 people from the Saint-Auban site. Other jobs would be available at the Lacq chemical units.