A new director for the Saint-Quentin-Fallavier site was appointed on Friday. More than a hundred employees of Valéo, an automotive equipment manufacturer, went on strike on Monday, July 11, responding to a call from minority unions: Sud Industrie and the Autonomous Confederation of Labor. Others walked out for a few hours on Monday morning as suggested by FO, CGT, CFE-CFC. The company’s management, meeting in a central CSE in Créteil, informed employees via a press release of its intention to seek a buyer for the entire Saint-Quentin-Fallavier site, which employs 350 people and around fifteen temporary workers.
Following a drastic drop in production, the Isère plant had been hoping for a new activity: the manufacture of a new DMG electric motor. Valéo Saint-Quentin-Fallavier had been working on research and development for several months. “This announcement makes us think that this activity will be deployed in Turkey, on the Valéo site in Bursa, and not here,” comments the FO/CGT/CFE-CGC inter-union, which fears, in the long term, the definitive closure of the plant. A new CSE will take place tomorrow, Tuesday July 16, to inform the social partners of the Isère site.
Valéo Saint-Quentin-Fallavier Faces Uncertain Future as Management Seeks Buyer
The automotive equipment manufacturer Valéo has announced its intention to seek a buyer for its entire Saint-Quentin-Fallavier site, which employs 350 people and around fifteen temporary workers. This news comes following a drastic drop in production at the Isère plant and follows a strike by more than a hundred employees, responding to the call of minority unions Sud Industrie and the Autonomous Confederation of Labor.
The decision to seek a buyer for the site was announced to employees via a press release following a central CSE meeting in Créteil. The group’s management is hoping to find a new owner for the site, which has been struggling in recent months.
The plant had been hoping for the arrival of a new activity: the manufacture of a new DMG electric motor. Valéo Saint-Quentin-Fallavier had been working on research and development for this project for several months. However, there are concerns that this activity will instead be deployed in Turkey, at the Valéo site in Bursa.
Employees Fear Closure
“This announcement makes us think that this activity will be deployed in Turkey, on the Valéo site in Bursa and not here,” comments the FO/CGT/CFE-CGC inter-union, which fears, in the long term, the definitive closure of the plant. The union representatives are worried that the sale of the site might lead to job losses and the eventual closure of the plant.
A new CSE will take place tomorrow, Tuesday July 16, to inform the social partners of the Isère site regarding the next steps in the process. The union representatives will be closely monitoring the situation and will be working to protect the interests of the employees.
Valéo’s Challenges and the Future of the Saint-Quentin-Fallavier Site
Valéo is facing a number of challenges, including the global economic slowdown, the shift towards electric vehicles, and the increasing competition from Chinese automotive suppliers. These challenges have led to a decline in demand for the company’s products, which has resulted in job losses and factory closures.
The future of the Saint-Quentin-Fallavier site is now uncertain. The sale of the site might lead to a number of different outcomes, including:
- A new owner might invest in the site and create new jobs.
- A new owner might downsize the operation and cut jobs.
- The site might be closed down completely.
The employees of the Saint-Quentin-Fallavier site are anxiously awaiting news regarding the future of their jobs. They hope that the sale of the site will lead to a positive outcome, but they are also prepared for the worst.
This story is developing and we will continue to update this article as more information becomes available.
