No tires will leave the Continental factory in Sarreguemines this Thursday. The employees, who have been on strike since Monday, October 17, have renewed the mobilization, after another failure in the negotiations. The inter-union (CGT, CFDT, CFTC) claims a 4% wage increase while the management camped at 3%. Despite this failure, employees say they are more motivated than ever: “we will stay there, as long as it takes, the ball is in the management’s court now”, says Jean-Claude, an employee for more than 30 years. For its part, the management says it is waiting for the agreement of the parent company in Hanover, Germany, before being able to increase salaries.
For a general wage increase
At the start of the negotiations, the management offered a bonus of 500 euros to the employees, a proposal that was refused. “What we want is a general increase in wages, because inflation is lasting and we don’t know what tomorrow will bring”, worries Moustafa, present for three days on the picket line. Management has already increased wages by 3.2% last March, but employees are demanding that wages follow inflation, at 6%. The unions and management will continue their negotiations on Thursday. Contacted by France Bleu Lorraine Nord, the management of the factory does not wish to speak for the moment and prefers to wait for the end of the negotiations.
Positive forecasts
The Continental plant in Sarreguemines has announced a production cut of 250,000 tires before the end of the year. A measure that does not worry employees because the forecasts for 2023 are positive, Continental should produce 500,000 more tires than in 2022.