They were saved! Duralex’s approximately 230 employees eventually fixed on fate. The Orléans commercial court approved the SCOP project of the workers of the French glass manufacturer this Friday morning, after analyzing three takeover offers.
Workers and trade unions, plunged into the greatest uncertainty about their future since the end of April after their company was put into receivership, were hoping for a positive outcome.
Last week, the commercial court had investigated three takeover files in six long hours were presented to restart Duralex, the flagship of the French industry, with about 230 employees in La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin (Loiret), Orléans.
Of the three proposals, the Co-operative Production Company (Scop) proposal was the best in terms of jobs, supported by 60% of staff and supported by site management. According to CFDT, the majority trade union, the company’s 150 employees have already contributed “€500 from their own pockets”. In addition, this Scop project received the support of local elected officials. The city of Orleans In order to convince the banks to finance the takeover, he offered to buy the site of the glass factory for an estimated amount of between 5 and 8 million euros. The Centre-Val de Loire region also pledged its support in the form of a bank guarantee and by doubling the capital contribution of employees.
This project involves the retention of the entire workforce and has gained the support of local elected officials, including representatives of the region, who have pledged their support in the form of a bank guarantee.
Duralex’s CGT opposed Scop
The Orleans commercial court’s decision was met with applause in a packed courtroom. What needs to be done is the conversion to Scop of Duralex. The CGT had taken a position in favor of an industrial settlement before the trial. “We fear that the industrial proposal will be rejected and Scop will be kept only for political reasons,” said an elected CGT official from Duralex. The CGT supported the proposal of Tourres et Cie, owned by Stéphanie and Adrien Tourres, owners of two other glass factories: Waltersperger (Seine-Maritime) and La Rochère (Haute-Saône). This option planned to eliminate about 50 jobs, but the union considered it more economically efficient.