PSA and Renault face strike

Officials of two of the main French car manufacturers, Renault and PSA Peugeot-Citroën, did demonstrations throughout the day yesterday in the main manufacturing units. They were protesting against the ongoing restructuring plans at the two companies. Just yesterday, the judiciary suspended the PSA layoffs plan.
A new round of talks began yesterday between representatives of automakers, the Government and trade unionists. The factories paralysed production yesterday.
Hard bargaining
At Renault, which plans to cut more than 8 thousand employees until 2016, was held the eighth round of negotiations with officials. The trade unionists complained that the automaker wants to impose in terms of competitiveness. The employees are against the measure.
At the Renault plant in Douai, in the North of the country, the competitive clause was classified as "blackmail" and culminated with the strike. "The measure opens the flanks to layoffs and factory closures," complained the leaders of the demonstration. Already in Flins, near Paris, hundreds of officers blocked the road in the vicinity of the factory.
Reduction of posts on PSA
The day was also difficult for the PSA. At the automaker's headquarters in Paris, a meeting was held about layoffs in Rennes (West) and Aulnay, on the outskirts of the capital.
The closure of the activities of Aulnay is planned for 2014 and is part of a restructuring plan that can culminate in up to 8 thousand layoffs, in addition to not fill 1.5 thousand temporary vacancies. This plan was announced in mid-2012 by the high dome of the PSA.
After 10 days of strike, the unit of Aulnay was open last Monday, but the protests continue damaging the production line. The factory had already carried out a stop between 16 and 18 January. The Paris Court of appeals decided by the suspension of the restructuring plan of the PSA. The company would not have respected the public information and consultation procedure.