This Tuesday, December 3, motorists crossing the Avenue Blaise-Pascal bridge in Beauvais can see numerous crosses and silhouettes such as are placed on the roadsides to signal a death. An initiative of the hundred AGCO employeesthreatened by a plan of dismissal. “This morning some people mobilized to install 103 crosses and silhouettes. To show that behind this impressive number of layoffs there are people and families in distress», Explain the employees. They have set up a collective which demands better transparency of the current negotiations with the unions.
A pressure which started internally and which is now coming out on public roads. The goal: to have more information and to show the anger that there may be in the engineering services affected by this social and economic plan. “The idea is to build up to a crescendo and make this situation visible to Beauvais residents», Add the employees. Another negotiation meeting is scheduled for Thursday. From there, the movement could gain momentum.
No blocking yet
The Unsa, Force Ouvrière and CFE-CGC unions are present with the employees, in front of the company this Tuesday. Many vehicles honk their horns in support as they pass by. But the group remains on the low side. The road was only blocked for a few minutes during the photo. “For now it is a symbolic action. Next week depending on the feedback, we will see what we can put in place», Indicate the employees.
For them, through their position, they also defend the industry in France. While social-economic plans are flourishing throughout the country. “It is also the refusal of relocationthey specify. We want to keep our jobs in France. Tomorrow, there is a major challenge in agricultural machinery», assure the employees. In fact, this social plan results from a “global reorganization» which opens similar positions in low-cost countries to close them in France (but not only).
Hundreds of jobs already affected
In the progress of the negotiations, the unions indicate that the company would be ready to return from 103 positions eliminated to 94 in Beauvais. Initially, this social plan concerns 139 positions in France. But employees point out that these figures only concern permanent employees. “But for the past year, more than 70 service providers, our colleagues with whom we have worked for years, have not had their contracts renewed. It’s a sort of disguised interim», They explain.
According to their information, the resumption of activity is planned for the second half of 2026. Will there be other social plans by then? “We are not safe. They told us», respond the unions. “We are cutting off the means to bounce back tomorrow», complains an employee. Contacted this Tuesday, management has not yet responded. To be continued at the end of the week…
