The Michelin group announced recently to the La Roche-sur-Yon teams its plan to close the site.
La Roche-sur-Yon Site To Be Closed by Michelin
The “Skipper” project, which was aimed at reinforcing the activity of the La Roche-sur-Yon site proved to be unsuccessful despite a 70 million-euro investment, due to the structural transformation of the premium truck tyre market, both in Europe and overseas: a European market with no growth expected, intense competition, with an entry level brand segment in constant increase.
The priority of the Group’s management is to support each of the 619 employees to support them with their future career with Michelin stating, “we are committed to ensuring that each person, according to his or her situation and projects, has a choice for the future.”
Michelin are in the process of proposing to the social partners to start as soon as possible the negotiation of an agreement on a support scheme for employees favoring voluntary mobility in order to avoid forced departures.
Among the 1338 salaried employees at the Cholet plant, 74 people from the workshop supplying rubber mixes to La Roche-sur-Yon site are concerned by the project of closure. In addition to the early retirement measures, each employee concerned in Cholet will be offered a new position on the site. There will be no impact for employees of the other French factories.
Beyond its legal obligations in terms of revitalization, Michelin has clarified its committed to setting up in the coming weeks an innovative initiative to transform the site, allowing for the development of sustainable activities, which will serve the interests of the town, the department (a local administrative division), and the region.
Michelin will additionally propose to the trade unions and all the public and private stakeholders in the region to take part in this project which will be supported by the Group.
