Union members who work for the French aeronautics giant Safran at its Mirabel plant are taking their pressure tactics to the next level by launching a seven-day strike, which could be prolonged if things do not resolve the impasse at the table negotiation.
The approximately 130 union members held a first 24-hour strike last week to denounce the “stagnation” of negotiations concerning the renewal of their collective agreement.
On Sunday, they met in a general meeting to consider the most recent offer from the employer, which they ultimately rejected. The employer side notably offered a salary increase of 14% in three years, she said.
In addition to rejecting the proposed agreement, 99% of workers voted in favor of a new strike sequence. They therefore began a seven-day walkout on Tuesday, which could be extended “if nothing moves at the table during this time”.
According to the Safran Workers’ Union, affiliated with the CSN, the vote allows it to go as far as an unlimited general strike.
In a statement, the union’s president, Michael Durand, reiterated that according to the workers, “the latest offers from the employer still do not make up for the years of high inflation” which were covered by the previous collective agreement, lasting six years.
“We are still stuck with conditions inferior to the competition in aeronautics on several important points,” he added.
For its part, the employer side assured that it remains “fully committed to the smooth running of future discussions” and confirmed its desire to reach a “harmonious” agreement preserving, at the same time, its attractiveness in terms of working conditions proposed, but also, the financial balance of its activities.
“Since the opening of negotiations, management has always had open and transparent exchanges with the union organization, making it possible to find agreements on numerous elements of the future collective agreement,” she argued.
The Safran Systèmes d’Atterrissage factory in Mirabel manufactures landing gear components for the Airbus A320, A330, A340 and A350 models, as well as the Boeing 787, we can read on the company’s website.