“In conflict with Solvay, we do not want to penalize Axens employees”

Solvay employees voted to completely block trucks on the chemical platform. Midi Libre – Alexis Béthune

Until Friday, the day scheduled for the start of negotiations at the Lyon headquarters between striking employees and their bosses, the Salindres chemical platform site is completely blocked: no trucks are entering or leaving the site.

The Salindres chemical platform, shared by Axens and Solvay, has been blocked since the announcement of the closure of the latter company. 68 jobs have been cut (our edition of September 25). Only about thirty employees belonging to the economic interest group (GIE) “Chimie Salindres” would be kept on.

Since the announcement of the closure of the Salindres production unit, the threatened employees have launched an unlimited strike movement. Nothing enters or leaves the site.

The Axens plant is at the heart of the conflict between management and Solvay staff. Production remains at the dock and raw materials are no longer arriving.

The facilities are currently operating at 40% of their capacity, causing concern among Axens workers. “We have started to be told about partial unemployment. Even if we understand our colleagues at Solvay, it's going to be complicated for us", explains an agent.

The site is completely blocked

A roadblock has been set up at the main entrance to the site with a marquee where the strikers are meeting. Against a backdrop of tension, a first incident broke out during the night from Friday to Saturday (read opposite), involving an isolated individual.

This Wednesday morning, the director of Axens went to meet the picket line. The manager tried to negotiate the passage of a semi-trailer to deliver to customers waiting for products.

“Our blockade aims to penalize Solvay, not Axens employees, assures Cédric Cozo, CGT union representative. It should be noted that when Solvay does not provide the steam needed for Axens' production tool, there are penalties. This can make management think, since only money counts. Axens is running at a slow pace. As far as possible, we want to avoid partial unemployment for employees." The latter could see their salary reduced by 200 or 300 € if the measure were to be implemented.

Axens collateral victim of the closure of Solvay

“We are in conflict with our management, not with Axens, which finds itself in the middle. That is why on Monday, it was decided to let trucks pass from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.” This Wednesday afternoon, the measure was not adopted during the vote at the general meeting.

“We had asked management to position itself on our demands concerning reclassification and departure conditions, indicates the union representative. But we were told that there would be no announcement before the meeting scheduled for this Friday at the company's headquarters in Lyon. Until then, it has been decided that nothing will enter or leave the site. Only vehicles dedicated to safety and the environment will enter."

Axens has – apparently – anticipated the difficulties related to supplies and deliveries by triggering partial unemployment in certain departments.

The decision to close Solvay seems inevitable. The employees, whose average age is 43, often have outstanding loans and local ties. "It's hard to plan elsewhere. We don't yet know very well under what conditions the departures or the reassignments will take place. We want to protect jobs. We're waiting for Friday's meeting."