"I'm scared for myself and for my colleagues," admits Nicolas, a Michelin employee

"They are nonsense they tell …" shouted an employee in the direction of Luc Bouard, Mayor of La Roche-sur-Yon, which summarizes the interview he just had a little before 5 pm with management of
Michelin. There is sadness, but especially a lot of anger in front of the factory of the
Roche-sur-Yon in the Vendée. Thursday morning, while worries were already strong, the chopper fell. In front of employees, the group's management confirmed that the tire production site, which employs 619 people, would close by the end of 2020.

"It's my life here, 30 years that I eat Michelin, my children eat Michelin," said Thierry, 50, a resident of Beaulieu-sous-la-Roche. That's how it ends: with a "goodbye" and no "thank you". It's hard to digest. "

"They are professional liars"

The management, which highlights the "difficulties of the market for high-end heavy-duty tires, both in Europe and for export," promised "a plan to support employees" La Roche. It includes early retirement measures and internal and external mobility schemes, so that everyone "has the opportunity to stay within the company in France". But the men and women concerned, many of whom have remained all day in front of the factory, are struggling to project themselves. "They want to send us elsewhere, but they give off the world everywhere," says Nicolas, 28. My life is here. "

This inhabitant of Challans, who has been employed for three years in the Vendée enterprise, does not hide his wrath, tears surface when he speaks of his future, which he imagines dark. "I do not even dare to call my wife. When I go back and tell him that in a few months I have no salary while we have a house to pay … I'm scared for myself and for my colleagues. "

The reasons for the "lack of competitiveness" of the plant in Yonne and the Asian competition advanced by the management to justify the closure do not pass at all. "They are professional liars, protests Anthony Guilloteau, CGT union representative and employee for 25 years in La Roche-sur-Yon. They forgot to say that they had increased the selling price of tires to make the most margin possible. "

Call for "an unlimited strike"

Worse than bad news, the South Union denounces a "betrayal", three years after the signing of a pact for the future and the investment of 70 million euros. The employees "are not responsible for the disastrous strategy of margin and price by Michelin that leads to this social disaster," said the group's third union, calling for an "unlimited strike" and "an appointment of any emergency "with the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire.

The Pays de la Loire region, which is losing one of the jewels of its industry, recalls that employees "have made considerable efforts to improve the competitiveness of their factory, including the proposal to launch a study to resize or diversify the activity. the site was not even heard by management. " The mayor of La Roche-sur-Yon, who met Michelin officials on site Thursday along with other elected officials, announced that he would coordinate with the department "To create a special support cell". The
Vendée has a low unemployment rate and high recruitment needs. Some 28,000 offers are currently vacant.