SIEMENS VAI DEMONSTRATION in Paris at Trocadero on February 24th, 2010
On Wednesday February 24th, 2010 at 3 a.m, they were 150 employees of SIEMENS VAI MT, to sacrify their night rest and to meet on the Saint Chamond car park site.
The aim is of the utmost importance for them. Since last September, the Saint Chamond and Montbrison/ Savigneux sites face a hard restructuring plan for which last term of discussion shall find its end at the end of this month.
But is it possible to use the negotiation term? Since the signing of the method agreement the management sticks on its positions for the industrial plan and also for the social one, rejecting with contempt the counter proposals which were despite relevant of the social partners and the expert office SYNDEX.
To remember, SIEMENS plans the closure of the Saint Chamond site, the deletion of 40 % of the staff, i.e 274 jobs on both sites, the transfer of the cold band, leveller and automatisms activities respectively to Austria, Great Britain and Germany. The headquarters of the only remaining activity, the Cold Band (metal sheets treatment) is now located in Shanghaï. That lets fear a total relocation to China within short
The cars park slowly and the ex-CLECIM employees part in the 3 bus till that bills, notices and various little items necessary for this new advertising operation are put in the bus hold.
This time, they go to the capital city. Last eve, 3 of their representatives met one of the French Republic President consultant. Around 10 a.m, it’s pouring with rain when they reach Paris. After one hour of heavy traffic road, they reach the Siemens France headquarters where it seems they are expected. As a miracle, the sky gets clement.
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Everything goes fast. The pitch of the Ligeriens is ferm. Very quickly some tyres are burning on the road, leaving a black dark smoke that the wind blows back down (providential symbols) against the building concrete walls, stiff, cold and impersonal as the managing heads of SIEMENS. |
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An employee representatives delegation and some employees, together with their Parisian counterparts, are received by the site deputy director, Mr François Gérin and by Mrs Dominique Filliatre-Simeon, deputy HR director. During this time, a journalist team is allowed to enter in the meeting room. |
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The message is clear. They expect from their shareholder more consideration. They do not want to be the adjustment variable of a group strategy lead only on the stock exchange rules. They claim for warranties and commitments on the company durability which is compromised by the management project. Furthermore, they demand decent conditions for the fired persons in an economic difficult context and in a heavily damaged region regarding jobless.
In the afternoon, the 3 bus go to the Trocadero square. There, after some sandwichs quickly eaten, “the Siemens” take place in front of the Marechal Foch statue for a choreography full of symbols. Several ranks face the photographers and cameramen, holding in front of them pictures symbolizing the products, skills and know-how of their one hundred year old company as the Eiffel Tower (which symbolizes the industrial French genius) which closes the background.
During the forecasted sono comments, some lay down the floor as the successive disappearance of the different activities, let the view free for the public to see a last rank showing in human sized letters “SIEMENS KILLS OUR INDUSTRY” alternatively in French “SIEMENS DETRUIT NOTRE INDUSTRIE”.
Deeply moved, concerned and determined, the procession goes down the Trocadero Palace steps in direction of the Champ de Mars, the sono forecasting the different standards of the « SIEMENS Singers » (see also on YOUTUBE).
After a long stop under the Eiffel Tower during which the demonstrators shout their anger, they go on their trip till a policemen line requests them to join their bus as soon as possible.
After singing the National Anthem the Marseillaise, the “SIEMENS” obey in order and are drived under escort till Paris gates where the rain is back. (Thanks to God!)
In the bus, they are satisfied despite a media cover which is under their expectations (do we have to charge a crowded social news activity or malicious pressures?) Their action will remain a success. Nevertheless, the struggle goes on with its final aim on Monday, it seems.
The journalist who were present (even if not numerous) have shown a lot of interest to our demonstration :
*Journal régional de France 3 Rhône Alpes le 24 février (from the fifth to the seventh minute).
*RTL, 7pm news, in the headline and from 1'48" to 3'26"
*L'humanité, feb 25th.
Other links :
http://www.tv5.org/
http://www.agefi.com/
http://www.boursorama.com
http://www.zoom42.fr
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