It is with firecrackers and smoke that the employees of the Ferropem des Clavaux site, in Livet-et-Gavet, celebrated the news this Monday afternoon: their silicon factory, threatened with closure since the announcement of a social plan at the end of March, is saved.
– Lionel Cariou
Better still: to the 129 stations kept on site, it will soon be necessary to add 25 to run a third furnace – this one devoted to the production of CaSi, a ferro-alloy. This is what emerged from the works council meeting held on Monday in Chambéry.
“Now we can resume our life”
“Ah yes I have a smile! cowardly Yacine ; it’s better !” Like many here, his personal history merges with that of the Clavaux. Part of his family preceded him to this century-old factory and he didn’t want to be the generation that would close the shop. So when the social plan was announced at the end of March, the young foreman and his colleagues decided to “work hard” to run the plant and prove it was profitable. “And it paid off!” he observes with a touch of pride. “Anyone can take over projects, he continues : investing in a house, buying a car … because all that was on hold. Now we can get on with our lives. ”
127 years of history
But all also have a word for their colleagues at the Château-Feuillet factory in La Léchère in Savoie (221 jobs), where the management of the FerroGlobe group (owner of Ferropem) has decided to maintain the social plan. “We have a thought for those of Château; they may not have the same path as us …” deplores Martine, still happy to have been able to save the Clavaux site. “Now as long as it lasts!” she concludes. “This factory is 127 years old, and I hope we will celebrate its 150 years”, says Mohammed, Force Ouvrière activist. “Anyway we only have that in the valley, slice the mayor of Livet-et-Gavet, Gilbert Dupont. If FerroGlobe dies, the valley dies. “
– Lionel Cariou
He too is relieved: 129 jobs saved, so many families will remain. More if we count indirect jobs. And the councilor of saluting the fight employees of Clavaux who have remained exemplary.
“We’re restarting in full swing!”
Moreover, the demonstrations of joy were short-lived this Monday afternoon. The employees had hardly left the yard to celebrate the news that they were already returning to their posts … What is happening? “We take over the ovens and restart at full capacity! Yacine launches all smiles. We loose nothing !” Like the first day. The “mega-party “, it will be for next week he promises before pushing open the factory door.