GE Vernova site in Montoir-de-Bretagne blocked by unions

Concrete blocks were installed at the entry and exit points of heavy goods vehicles as well as at certain "strategic locations" of the factory to "block internal flows", the CGT said.

The inter-union group bringing together the CGT and the CFE-CGC counts 140 jobs under threat on the Montoir-de-Bretagne site, and maintains that 40 of them "are not justified if we want to keep the site's organisation viable".

Other negotiations are underway at the Nantes site, where the group is considering cutting 220 jobs, according to the unions.

In Montoir-de-Bretagne, the unions are calling on management to "review the number of positions eliminated" and are demanding commitments on "the flagship measures such as reclassification leave, severance pay and early retirement", according to a press release released on Monday.

"This Monday morning, management called union representatives to discuss the situation. They stated that they had obtained progress from the group on employment and social measures," the press release states.

On the other hand, "management claims to refuse to negotiate until the blockade is lifted," according to the unions.

Contacted by AFP, the site's management did not confirm this information, assuring that it "fully recognizes the right of employees to demonstrate."

"We are determined to continue to demonstrate transparency and to conduct a dialogue with all stakeholders, within the framework of the information-consultation procedure underway with local employee representatives," added the management.

She spoke of a context of "serious difficulties across the entire value chain, due in particular to inflation and project delays which are affecting the development of the offshore wind market".

GE Vernova, which has brought together General Electric's energy activities since the American conglomerate was split in April, manufactured the nacelles for the wind farm installed off the coast of Saint-Nazaire at its Montoir-de-Bretagne site and worked on the Dogger Bank wind farm in the United Kingdom.

GE Vernova employs a total of 75.000 people worldwide, including 7.500 in France.