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Companies: saved by its employees, Duralex is back in the form of a Scop
They rolled up their sleeves and took risks to save their company and their jobs. On July 26, the employees of the glass manufacturer Duralex became owners of the La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmins factory by creating a cooperative.
(France 2)
They took risks to save their company and their jobs. On July 26, employees of the glass manufacturer Duralex became owners of the La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin factory by creating a cooperative.
After three months of grueling receivership, the workers are in charge of the glassworks in La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin (Loiret). Each employee-shareholder has invested at least 500 euros in the company. Duralex has had six bankruptcies in 27 years, and suffered 10 million euros in losses last year due to soaring energy prices and the collapse of foreign sales.
To survive, the cooperative needs money and ideas, such as a temporary collection in collaboration with Le Slip Français. Duralex also wants to achieve +30% in sales in five years. To get back on track, the SCOP can count on its 228 employees, some of whom were drawn at random to be part of the provisional board of directors. But the project is not unanimous in the company, and management is giving itself nine months to bring all employees on board for the adventure. The saving of the factory has nevertheless delighted the residents and shopkeepers of La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin. According to the first figures, the start of the SCOP is better than expected.