Strasbourg (AFP)

The union of General Electric (GE) in Belfort, who had given until 15 August to the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, to meet his demands on the social plan for a thousand jobs, pushed back Wednesday his ultimatum at the end of August.

"Ministers are returning from vacation on August 22, we will not do anything before August 27, 28 or 29," said Philippe Petitcolin, CFE-CGC union representative.

The inter-union had sent a "formal notice" to the Minister of Economy on July 29, leaving him until August 15 to respond to his requests.

"The ministers are on vacation, our lawyers are on vacation, everyone is on vacation, we will not attack the state on August 16," added Mr. Petitcolin, adding that the determination of the Inter remained untouched.

"We hope that it will give the Minister (Economy) time to return and act as it is asked," said Mr. Petitcolin.

The unions demand "a robust + analysis to verify the reality of the commitments made by the group, and an" immediate meeting "of the social plan monitoring committee, they had developed in late July.

In the absence of a reply or "positive act" by the minister, the trade unionists had warned him that they reserved the right to summon the government to the administrative court to have "the prejudice related to the non-compliance with the law recognized". agreement "of 4 November 2014.

In this agreement, taken at the time of the acquisition of the energy pole of Alstom by GE, the American industrialist had undertaken to create a thousand jobs and to maintain the main activities of gas turbines, as well as the center of global decision of this activity, on the site belfortain. Penalties were imposed on him for failing to keep his promise in terms of jobs.

At the end of May, GE announced its intention to eliminate nearly 1,050 substations in France, including nearly 800 in the gas turbine entity at the Belfort site, ie half of its workforce.

The inter-union also reproached the Mayor for being "totally silent" on his request for suspension of the restructuring proceedings. "The state has the means (...) to force GE to change the restructuring plan," had previously warned Mr. Petitcolin.

In total, the US group employs 4,300 employees in Belfort.

© 2019 AFP