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Difficulty caused by subcontractors, the Peugeot factory in Sochaux had already planned several days of partial unemployment in October. But to everyone’s surprise, 2,500 employees were sent home for six days, this Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at noon. Explanations.
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The bad news is cascading for the employees of Stellantis in Sochaux. While three days and two nights of partial unemployment had already been decided by management at the beginning of October, production finally stopped for several consecutive days this Wednesday midday. According to the unions, 2,500 to 3,000 employees have been invited to return to work from next Tuesday morning. The approximately 3,000 other employees on the site (administration services, research and development, etc.) are not affected.
At the end of the semester, the company has the habit of sacrificing a few days of work to adjust production to stocks. But due to supply difficulties, management announced three days of unannounced partial unemployment the day before for the next day (Friday October 17 was already planned).
“It’s sudden and brutal,” reacts Jean-Luc Pernet, CFTC delegate (French Confederation of Christian Workers). Like his fellow union representatives, he learned the bad news Tuesday afternoon, during an Extraordinary Social and Economic Council (CSE). “We didn’t expect it at all.”
To pay for these days off, management will first draw on the recovery hour counters, accumulated by certain employees over the year. Employees are also invited to come and follow on-site training in the coming days, in order to continue to replenish their respective meters.
The impact on the pay slip should therefore not be felt “for the moment”, specifies Jean-Luc Pernet, who “remains concerned”. “If this unemployment is extended next Tuesday, we will seriously start to ask ourselves questions.” Indeed, this maneuver cannot last indefinitely: once their recovery hour meters are empty, partially unemployed employees will only receive 84% of their salary.
Production line in the Peugeot 308, 3008 and 5008 manufacturing workshops. • © LIONEL VADAM / MAXPPP
Please note that precarious contracts will not benefit from this solution. “Certain temporary workers could completely lose their remuneration for these days, depending on the contracts they have with the agencies” deplores Bilal Benchaa, CFDT (French Democratic Confederation of Labor) delegate at the Sochaux site.
On the front line are the night shifts. These employees who volunteer for this pace of work would, according to Jean-Luc Pernet, be the first affected by reductions in staff numbers. “We are very worried for these employees and for the factory. Night work is essential to the balance of the Sochaux site.”
This situation is not a direct result of the poor health of the automobile market. Indeed, if the car order books are emptying in other factories of the Stellantis group, the demand for Peugeot 3008 and 5008 – the vehicles produced in Sochaux – remains stable.
The problem lies with the subcontractors linked to Stellantis. At the end of September, the management of the Sochaux site announced the first days of partial unemployment after battery delivery problems. This time, it is the components of the gearboxes ordered by Peugeot which do not arrive.
The unions are all the more worried that the recovery announced Tuesday is not certain. “A new update will be made no later than Monday, October 20 to confirm or not the Tuesday sessions and specify the necessary adjustments to the end of the month schedule,” Stellantis communications services tell France 3. A toll-free number, 0800 88 77 69, will be activated on Monday to inform employees immediately of the events.
Article written with Hugo Flotat-Talon and Rémy Poirot.