197 positions removed from MMT-B, “a social drama”, deplores Régis Labasse, secretary of the CSE and union delegate

“We did not expect that,” said the union representative, the day after the announcement, a job safeguard plan on the site of the former Ford factory in Blanquefort. For many employees, “it’s 35 years or 40 years” of seniority.

The abolition of 197 positions Thursday at the automotive supplier MMT-B in Blanquefort (Gironde) is “a social drama”, deplores Friday March 14 “Here Gironde” Régis Labasse, secretary of the CSE (Social and Economic Committee) of the factory and FO union delegate. The car equipment manufacturer, which produces gearboxes on the site of the former Ford factory in Blanquefort, announced Thursday morning a job backup plan, providing for the abolition of almost half of the workforce. The company employs 420 people.

The deletions will be made, at first, in the form of a voluntary starting plan. “We did not expect that two months ago”, continues Régis Labasse, which recalls that the average age in the factory is 47 years, but for many employees, “It’s 35 or 40 years old” seniority. And today we announce that 50 % of the workforce will leave. It’s hard to accept. “

To justify these job cuts, the management of MMT-B evokes the drop in manual speed boxes made for Ford, the flagship product of the company. “We had seen a drop in volume coming for manual gearboxes, but not to this speed”describes the union representative. There, “We are immediately told 30% less”, The teams are “So in an overstaffing. And the management had to launch a PSE”continues Régis Labasse.

The employees concerned by the PSE “Know since yesterday that they will no longer be there on November 1” “. They did not learn it “They directly, but their position is deleted. So the person knows very well”, Indicates the FO delegate. Union representatives will “Negotiate the PSE until June 26. After there will be a voluntary departure plan from July 1 to the end of September, if employees want to leave, of course, and after that will be dismissal notifications”Details Régis Labasse.

The inter -union calls on the public authorities to help it diversify the production of the factory, but no elected official, no mayor, no deputy has come for the moment, to see the employees. “We will meet in inter -union on Monday and we will chat with employees to see what we can do, concludes the FO delegate. We also wish to receive the boss of Mutares France (MMT-B was bought in 2023 by the German Mutares Fund) Because for the moment, they recover our money and they do not do much. “