Some of the employees at the Sochaux (Doubs) vehicle production plant are on technical unemployment. A lack of supply forced management to reduce production this Wednesday, December 11. The teams will be informed of a possible resumption no later than Sunday, December 15.
The essentials of the day: our exclusive selection
Every day, our editorial team reserves the best regional news for you. A selection just for you, to stay in touch with your regions.
France Télévisions uses your email address to send you the newsletter “The essentials of the day: our exclusive selection”. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link at the bottom of this newsletter. Our privacy policy
It’s a factory that is idling in Sochaux. The Stellantis company was forced to shut down part of its production following a lack of raw materials on Wednesday December 11. Management informed the unions indicating “capacity constraints from one of our suppliers”, forcing a cancellation of part of the employee tours.
According to our information, a lack of supply of batteries for the hybrid model is the cause. Between 1,500 and 2,000 people would be affected by the production stoppage, according to the unions.
Exceptions are made in certain sectors which continue their activity such as assembly or logistics. A situation that the unions deplore. “It worries us, because it has repercussions on a social level. There are some who are losing money. We have 60% of people who are temporary workers in the production line,” says Bilal Benchaa, CFDT union representative. .
For the coming weeks, employees are invited to contact a toll-free number set up by management to find out the days worked. Employees will be informed of the resumption of tours, “at the latest on Sunday at 4 p.m. for the night shift on Sunday evening and the shift on Monday morning”, specifies the communication from Stellantis.
A situation denounced by the unions. “Today, people are hanging on their phones, on the toll-free number. We are in an à la carte work formula. We have no visibility on next week, are people going to be on vacation or not ?” deplores Thierry Giroux, union representative Force Ouvrière Stellantis Sochaux.
A wind of worry hovers among the workers. At the end of November, management announced that there would be no production during the end-of-year holidays from December 20. The resumption initially scheduled for January 3 is postponed to January 6. Just a coincidence of timing or a bigger production problem? Doubt remains.
“The problem is that management is not transparent about orders. We do not know the number of orders well, it is also to reassure employees,” explains Bilal Benchaa, CFDT union representative within the ‘business. Contacted on this point by the editorial staff, Stellantis communication has not yet responded to our request.
The announcement of the resignation of Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis in November, also increased uncertainty for the group’s employees. If the ex-leader was little appreciated, the group could be weakened by this vacancy. His successor should be appointed in the first half of 2025.
Every day, receive news from your region by newsletter.
Ignore
register
Every day, receive news from your region by newsletter.
France Télévisions uses your email address to send you the newsletter for your region. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link at the bottom of these newsletters. Our privacy policy