French Glass Factory Closure Sparks protests,Safety Concerns
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A growing labor dispute over the impending closure of the Verrerie du Languedoc glass factory in vergèze,France,escalated this week,with over 150 people gathering in protest on Friday,October 10. Workers, unions, and local officials are now mobilizing for a major demonstration on Thursday, October 16, demanding state intervention to prevent what they call a “social, industrial, economic and environmental” disaster.
Rising Tensions at Verrerie du Languedoc
the conflict centers around the decision by American owner Owens-Illinois (OI) to shutter the facility. While negotiations had initially shown “progress” according to union representatives,tensions reignited on Thursday,October 9,when management announced the imminent closure of the oven – a critical component of the production process – citing safety concerns related to ongoing employee protests.
The company stated in a press release that halting oven operations was “the only option to restore the safety of people and installations, while preserving the integrity of the oven.” Though, the inter-union – comprised of the CGT, CFE-CGC, and FO unions – immediately denounced the announcement as a deliberate act of sabotage and a breach of good faith.
Union Accusations of Bad Faith and Safety Risks
Union leaders allege that OI management failed to inform them of the press release before its publication and accuse the company of using safety as a pretext to justify the closure. “They are liars,” insisted a CGT union delegate. “The excuses cited are not justified. For more than ten days,it was the employees who maintained activity and safety in the total absence of management on the site.”
A key point of contention is the timing of the proposed oven shutdown, which comes just two weeks before a previously agreed-upon end date for the plant’s restructuring plan (PSE) on October 31. “Why stop the oven two weeks before?” the delegate questioned, adding, “OI are thugs.”
Moreover, concerns are mounting over the potential for a catastrophic industrial accident if the oven is shut down hastily. Guillaume Boisson, a Central CFE-CGC Union Representative responsible for maintainance, explained the complex process of safely decommissioning the furnace.”To stop the furnace, 400 tons of glass must be poured onto the ground. It doesn’t happen like that. The last time we did it, we prepared for three weeks.” He warned that the current plan, requiring completion by Monday, October 13, with limited resources – only one charger available compared to the previous two – poses a significant risk of “human and industrial catastrophe.”
Allegations of Union-Busting Tactics
The inter-union also alleges that OI is attempting to undermine union representation. They claim a company representative pressured Guillaume Boisson, while he was engaged in negotiations in lyon, to expedite the oven shutdown, violating established protocols regarding delegation hours. “We see a questioning of union rights,” the inter-union stated.
Mobilization for October 16 Protest
In response to the escalating crisis, the mayor of Vergèze, Pascale Fortunat-deschamps, has called for a large-scale demonstration outside the Gard prefecture in Nîmes on Thursday, October 16, at 11 a.m. “Local elected officials will respond,” she assured, surrounded by approximately fifteen colleagues. Yohan Goupille, the CGT union delegate, echoed her call, urging maximum participation: “I ask everyone to do everything so that there are as many of us as possible on Thursday.”
A solidarity canteen will be set up on Thursday lunchtime to support the demonstrators. The inter-union has extended an appeal for support to trade union organizations across Gard and neighboring departments, hoping to pressure the state to intervene and prevent the closure of the Verrerie du Languedoc. The future of the factory, and the livelihoods of its workers, now hangs in the balance.
