A Suez employee protests against Véolia's takeover bid, -

ROMUALD MEIGNEUX / SIPA

The inter-union of the Suez group, threatened by a takeover bid from its competitor Veolia, announced on Tuesday that it had directly requested Emmanuel Macron "as an arbitrator" to ask him to help find "a solution from above for all stakeholders ”.

"Mr. President of the Republic, because the effective settlement of the takeover bid will not be completed until May 2022, and we wish to avoid a hard social conflict, we are relying on you as an arbitrator, capable of to find the path that will reassure employees and lead to a solution from the top for all stakeholders, ”wrote the inter-union in a letter delivered by courier to Emmanuel Macron on March 15.

"A social break-up operation"

The trade unionists of the water and waste treatment giant also "reiterate" their request to meet with him as quickly as possible.

"We ask you as the last resort to put an end to this conflict of destruction of value, to work for a way out of the conflict", they continue.

The employees of Suez, “to whom you have paid a resounding tribute, have today become the variables of adjustment of an operation of unprecedented social destruction and destruction of value, unfortunately under the passive and elusive gaze of the State ”, still regrets the intersyndicale.

A conflict that has lasted for several months

"Veolia's project is disastrous in that it does not carry any solid and sustainable industrial project for Suez in France and internationally", still believe the trade unions, praising "healthy and stimulating" competition for innovation rather than the “waist race”.

"Our social mobilization against this takeover will continue for as long as it takes, because we will not resign ourselves to seeing 4,000 to 5,000 jobs cut in France, and at least as many globally," they warn.

The two groups have been in open conflict for many months, Suez using all possible legal remedies to avoid being swallowed up by its competitor, eager to form a world champion in environmental services.

In October, Veolia acquired a 29.9% stake in Suez from Engie, thus triggering hostilities before launching an assault on the rest via a hostile takeover bid.

Economy

Veolia threatens Suez directors with legal action if strategic assets are sold

Economy

Veolia puts 7.9 billion euros on the table to buy all of Suez

  • Emmanuel Macron

  • Takeover bid

  • Social conflict

  • Suez

  • Veolia