Some wanted to see it as a rumor for a year, but the announcement on Tuesday had the effect of a bomb. At L’Horme, the company SAG France, which specializes in the manufacture of tanks for heavy goods vehicles, will lose its biggest customer, Renault Trucks. The end of the contract is scheduled for September. This represents 80% of SAG France’s activity. Thierry Grand, of the CFTC, has the impression of being had. “We have always been told, ‘gentlemen, don’t worry, we are talking to Renault, the door is not closed’. And to tell us now that Renault is over. Who cares about us!”fulminates the union representative.
According to the employees, nothing is being done to find a lasting solution. And the new president of SAG France, Patrick Biehler, appointed three weeks ago, does not reassure. “For me, the liquidator who is there, he was sent by the parent company”advance Doulache Boualem, delegate of FO. “He wants to file for bankruptcy in September, that’s all. On the other hand, the guys will have to be taken until September. But they don’t want to anymore! They know they’re going to lose their jobs. , they are demoralized!”
“We are going to pay the broken pots”
The unions see above all a maneuver by the parent company in Austria which claims to cut branches that are too unprofitable. Boualem Kali, of the CGT, believes that it is a pretext to hide the bad commercial strategy of the group. “Our parent company made a mistake raising prices with Renault Trucks, and Renault took it by the throat and said, ‘SAG, we’re taking it off the list!'”says the trade unionist. “So we are not responsible. But on the other hand, we will pay for the broken pots.”
The only hope would be to find new customers before September to fill the order book. Until then, the 84 employees say they are determined to continue the strike. Asked, the management of SAG France did not respond.