Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Philippe Martinez joined several hundred people on Thursday outside the Luxfer site in Gerzat (Puy-de-Dôme) to support former employees and demand the reopening of this factory which manufactures medical oxygen cylinders. According to the prefecture, 350 people took part at 11 am in this national rally at the call of the CFDT metallurgy and the CGT, which counted for its part more than 1,000 participants gathered under a blazing sun.
“This site is the materialization of what the CGT has been wearing for months and which is more relevant than ever. The president wants to relocate, he has a turnkey site there to do it! ", Declared to the AFP the general secretary of the CGT Philippe Martinez. The CGT has repeatedly called for the nationalization of the Gerzat plant, closed in June 2019, which manufactured oxygen cylinders, the demand for which exploded with the coronavirus crisis.
"It doesn't cost anything to nationalize Luxfer"
“The Luxfer workers are ready to go back to their work stations and produce the oxygen cylinders that not only France needs but the world! “, Launched at midday the leader of the rebellious France, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, before an audience of employees and unionists who came more widely to protest against the deindustrialization of the territory.
"It doesn't cost anything to nationalize Luxfer but it brings a lot to France!" Added Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who had supported Marianne Maximi, the LFI candidate in the Clermont-Ferrand municipal elections, in the morning.
“The removal of this site is to condemn Europe to depend on the Turks and the Americans. If you really want this relocation and this industrial sovereignty, start by saving this production! ", Also declared before some journalists the MEP Raphaël Glucksmann (PS-Public place), present alongside the PS deputy, Christine Pires-Beaune, who also demanded nationalization with several socialist parliamentarians.
The mayor of Clermont ready to buy the land
The mayor of Clermont-Ferrand Olivier Bianchi (PS) said he was ready, as president of the Metropolis, to buy the factory land for 15 million euros "if that can allow the rescue", while the site requires significant remediation work. A further discussion session between the government and Luxfer management was scheduled for Thursday.
Based in Nottingham, England, Luxfer announced in late November 2018 the final closure of the Auvergne plant, the only one it owned in France, bought in 2001 from a subsidiary of Pechiney-Rhenalu.
Of the 136 factory workers, only 15% would have found a job according to the CGT.
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- France rebellious
- Aquitaine
- Philippe Martinez
- Jean-Luc Mélenchon
- CGT