2024-08-30 20:26:11
Almost a hundred Alpine workers peacefully protested on Friday in Monza on the occasion of the Italian Formula 1 GP to oppose the planned end in 2026 of the production in France of a single-seater engine of the Franco-British team, notes AFP .
The workers of the Viry-Châtillon company, near Paris, who traveled twelve hours in two buses to reach the Italian region, located near Milan (north), took their seats on the bus track in the two stops apart to go to free practice for the Grand Italian Grand Prix, the 16th round out of 24 of the F 1 season.
Dressed in white T-shirts crossed with the Alpine logo, the arrow A, and the slogan #ViryOnTrack, they carried a banner that asked them to continue the development of the 2026 engine, which will give pride of place to the electric segment . , and to “save 50 years of French Formula 1”, before recalling the 12 constructors’ world titles won by the Renault brand, owner of Alpine.
“We managed to present ourselves, to reach the media and we managed to issue a press release published on Thursday. From my point of view, it was a good day, maybe more than we expected, “Patrick Gabaud, elected representative of the Social and Economic Commission (CSE) of Viry site, told AFP Châtillon (Essonne) , who made the long journey to Monza.
“We respect the state of mind mobilized by being very peaceful and we hope this will have a positive impact. Whatever happens, this journey will be the joy of the beautiful people who unite us and will serve us in our daily connections,” he added.
“Talent Flight”
In total, 217 of the 334 workers of the site of Viry-Châtillon, who are sure that they have received the support of many politicians (Mayor, MP, President of the branch council in particular), are still on strike this Friday to protest Luca De’s. decision.
“80% of the workers who can strike are on strike. We want to send a message in a constructive and peaceful way, and show Luca De Meo that the F 1 2026 project has its place in Viry. Without F 1, there is no technical progress of any kind and we risk the flight of our talents,” Olivier Loret, secretary of the CSE, explained to AFP.
“We hope to get a response from the CEO, who has not responded to any of our letters, to start a conversation with him,” he added.
Renault, which has been designing and manufacturing its own F1 engines at its Viry-Châtillon site for 47 years, told workers’ representatives at the end of July of its desire to change this company, without yet any threat for work. The final decision should be made by September 30.
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