Several dozen employees of MAN Energy Solutions, a subsidiary of Volkswagen which produces engines for French Navy submarines in particular, demonstrated in Saint-Nazaire on Friday against a plan to cut 71 jobs.

“Although the company returns an average of 10 million euros in dividends each year to its shareholder, MAN Energy Solutions France, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, is forced to cut 12% of its workforce,” lamented a CGT inter-union and CFE-CGC in a statement read to employees gathered in front of the company.

The unions demanded "the putting under supervision by the State of MAN-ES France", affirming that a "temporary nationalization, would make it possible to stop the social plan and the sabotage of a profitable French company".

"This is the first time that we have officially requested it", underlined the CGT delegate Richard David, believing that the issue "is to have autonomy at the level of France, not to be dependent on vis other countries, in particular a competitor MTU, which is very well known ”.

Already a call to order from the government

Representatives of the CFDT were also present at the rally.

A banner “No to social scrapping, no to the elimination of 71 jobs” was deployed.

MAN Energy Solutions announced at the beginning of August 2020 a restructuring plan providing for the elimination of 2,600 jobs worldwide and a “rationalization” of its sites, particularly in France.

"The resizing of activities will be done mainly around production sectors and the prospects for adapting the workforce would lead to a reduction of 71 jobs", then specified in February the management of MAN Energy Solutions France in a press release.

In January, the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire reminded Volkswagen of its industrial commitments regarding MAN Energy Solutions.

"The Volkswagen group is required, by virtue of the commitments it has made, to maintain on national territory the defense activities and the associated industrial capabilities", he said, insisting that these commitments are " legal commitments ”.

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  • Demonstration

  • Employment

  • Saint Nazaire

  • Social

  • Economy

  • Nantes