Unusual scene this Tuesday in Belfort. Seven young people protesting with placards in front of the O’délices sign on avenue Jean Jaurès. Some are employees, others were. They all claim that they have not been paid for several months by their employer. Between the two parties, the dialogue is complicated.
Judicial liquidation in progress
Laëtitia was the sales manager for the bakery. She did not see her salary coming and went on sick leave to protest. “They told us that they were in receivership on October 20, but it was not done. We called the commercial court and things are not progressing, they do not want to pay us”, she says. According to her, dialogue is not possible with her former bosses. “They see our messages but do not respond”, she says.
The bakery lawyer, Master Boos, maintains thatjudicial reorganization proceedings have been initiated : “As such, all unpaid wages in progress will be settled in the coming weeks by the AGS and this within the framework of this procedure which will constitute I am on a relief for the former employees”, he writes.
Charges of harassment
The grievances of former employees go beyond the issue of wages. “There was harassment towards some people”, says Laëtitia. “To tell them that they were too fat or that they would be raped if they came dressed like this or that”, she says. From proceedings are underway at the industrial tribunal.
Those in charge of the bakery deny these accusations. Their lawyer “deplores all the same that if the former employees had even deigned to initiate a dialogue with their employer, we would not be the [sic]“. He also claims that “several disputes are directly attributable to former employees of the company who are careful not to mention it today”. While waiting to receive their salaries, the young people promise to come back to demonstrate every week.