“We learn everything in the press,” criticizes the inter-union, which demands answers on the future of the group’s stores

A new meeting is planned for Thursday afternoon between the unions and the buyers. The inter-union hopes to emerge with precise lists, and a social calendar for the inevitable layoffs.

Which Casino stores will move to Auchan? Which ones at Intermarché? And above all, how many will close for how many job losses? So many questions that persist for Casino employees and unions, almost two weeks after a strike in logistics warehouses and stores. The Saint-Etienne group, engaged in restructuring its debt, which exceeds eight billion euros, plans to sell 313 hypermarkets and supermarkets to Auchan and Intermarché, before changing shareholders in the spring. More than 12,000 jobs are affected by this sale, 18,000 even say the unions, who now want to know to which brand each of these stores will go.

A new meeting is planned for Thursday January 4 in the afternoon with the future buyers and the inter-union does not despair of obtaining some answers, after weeks of silence on the future of the group. “We’re fed up, we learn everything from the press, we never know anything from themscathes Jean Pastor, one of the spokespersons for the inter-union. I will always remember that Monday morning, 4:45 a.m., when I learned that all the people were for sale.”

The unions “know that everything is up”

Faced with the lack of transparency from management, the unions denounce a “offense of obstruction” which prevents them from knowing all the elements of the file. “They informed and consulted us regarding the backup plan.”

“They give you the project five minutes before the end of the meeting. How do you want to give an opinion? There are people who had already left! We are poorly informed. We have contacted our lawyers, we are not going to let them do it calmly.”

Jean Pastor, spokesperson for the Casino inter-union

at franceinfo

Thursday afternoon, the inter-union will also demand a social calendar, to anticipate inevitable layoffs in logistics warehouses and at the Saint-Étienne headquarters. “We know that everything is folded, even if we don’t want itadmits Jean Pastor. We have to start thinking about that because it’s going to happen.”according to the unions, a thousand employees are threatened at headquarters. The 2,000 warehouse employees are also waiting to know their fate.