French car strike continues

Submitted by Matthew on 6 March, 2013 - 12:51

A strike at the Citroen car plant in Aulnay, to the north-east of Paris, started on 16 January and is now in its seventh week.

Factory owners PSA group (Peugeot Citroën) plan to close the Aulnay factory, causing large job losses. The company plans to shed 8,000 jobs overall in the next few years.

Around 400 workers, out of a workforce of 3,000, organised by the CGT union, are on strike, but also some workers who are not striking are taking part in some of the protest actions and the general assemblies.

The strike has largely succeeded in stopping production at the factory and held strong in spite of an eight day lockout in February. The strikers also visit other car plants, including of rival car manufacturer Renault, and are being warmly received. The whole industry faces problems and there are other industrial disputes throughout the sector.

Tripartite negotiations between the union, Citroen management and the government have so far not produced any results. The strikers and suporters are busy collecting money to support the strike; on 22 February, for example, they collected €10,000 at the St-Arnoult toll.

• Strike website here
• Detailed report on Marxist Revival website

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