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11 August, 2005ICEM News release No. 2/1998
French workers today ended their occupation of a factory belonging to US-based multinational Kimberly-Clark, following concessions from the company.
Last November, the paper products giant announced the "sale, closure or downsizing of up to 18 manufacturing facilities worldwide and a workforce reduction of approximately 5,000 employees." The declared aim of the cut-backs in Kimberly-Clark's 37-country manufacturing operation is to bring the company "closer to achieving its 'stretch' financial target of doubling earnings per share from operations between 1995 and the year 2000."
For the Saint Cyr en Val site, near Orléans in France, the company earlier this month decreed a complete shutdown, with the loss of 177 jobs. The news caused particular anger because the plant had originally been set up with the aid of generous local taxpayer subsidies. Immediately after the announcement, the workers at Saint Cyr en Val launched their two-week occupation of the site.
Now, Kimberly-Clark has agreed to tripartite meetings between the union, management and local government technical advisers. Management is now also talking in terms of selling the plant off, rather than simply shutting it down.
So the workers voted this Saturday 17 January for a return to work. But they "remain vigilant" and "have not regained their confidence in Kimberly-Clark". A demonstration next Saturday 24 January in Orléans will hammer home their message that "jobs must take precedence over the Dollar."
At the global level, the FCE-CFDT is affiliated to the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM), which has supported the French workers' campaign.
Last November, the paper products giant announced the "sale, closure or downsizing of up to 18 manufacturing facilities worldwide and a workforce reduction of approximately 5,000 employees." The declared aim of the cut-backs in Kimberly-Clark's 37-country manufacturing operation is to bring the company "closer to achieving its 'stretch' financial target of doubling earnings per share from operations between 1995 and the year 2000."
For the Saint Cyr en Val site, near Orléans in France, the company earlier this month decreed a complete shutdown, with the loss of 177 jobs. The news caused particular anger because the plant had originally been set up with the aid of generous local taxpayer subsidies. Immediately after the announcement, the workers at Saint Cyr en Val launched their two-week occupation of the site.
Now, Kimberly-Clark has agreed to tripartite meetings between the union, management and local government technical advisers. Management is now also talking in terms of selling the plant off, rather than simply shutting it down.
So the workers voted this Saturday 17 January for a return to work. But they "remain vigilant" and "have not regained their confidence in Kimberly-Clark". A demonstration next Saturday 24 January in Orléans will hammer home their message that "jobs must take precedence over the Dollar."
At the global level, the FCE-CFDT is affiliated to the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM), which has supported the French workers' campaign.