Union calls for a strike after Solvay's plan to close a French plant (updated)

Solvay SA

25/09/2024 17:13

(Adds company comments, further union comments and context)
       Sept 25 (Reuters) - French labour union CGT at Solvay's
 SOLB.BR  Salindres plant, in southern France, said on Wednesday
it had called on employees to go on strike a day after the
Belgian chemicals group announced it would close that facility.
    "The CGT Solvay refuses to accept the closure of our
activities and the loss of more than 68 jobs in a region already
short of jobs", the union said in a statement.
    Solvay said the 68 jobs cuts due to closure of the plant
were expected to happen between early 2025 and October 2025,
adding it would result in a provision of around 50 million
euros.
        "With appropriate investment, our know-how could still
offer us a future, particularly in new technologies such as the
production of raw materials for batteries", the labour union
said in its statement.
  
        Solvay 
    announced in July
     its aim to supply Europe with rare earth materials for
batteries from another site in La Rochelle, western France. 
  
        The Salindres site, which produces trifluoroacetic acid
(TFA) and its fluorinated derivatives, is impacted by strong
international competition, a deteriorating financial performance
and a tougher regulation on perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl
substances (PFAS), a company spokesperson told Reuters. 
  
        "This project will now be the subject of an information
and consultation procedure with labor representatives at the
plant," the spokesperson added.
  
        The company is considering ending its TFA and
fluorinated derivatives production in France after unsuccessful
diversification attempts at Salindres.
  

 (Reporting by Leo Marchandon; Editing by Benoit Van
Overstraeten)
 ((Leo.Marchandon@thomsonreuters.com;))