The future of Sam, the Aveyron foundry is being played out at the moment. So the mobilizations multiply. This Monday, November 22, the employees blocked the departmental D840, very close to their factory in Vivez. This Tuesday they will be from 10:30 am with tents and barnums in front of the Rodez prefecture. One way to show that 340 families will be precarious if the plant is not taken over.

In Toulouse, we are also mobilizing for the Aveyron foundry. Before the regional demonstration on December 1, the CGT Haute-Garonne calls for a rally this Tuesday, November 23 at 12 noon in front of the Renault site, avenue des Etats-Unis. Philippe Poutou, candidate of the New Anticapitalist Party NPA, and former Ford employee will be in the demo.

Put pressure on Renault

The goal: to put pressure on Renault. The automaker must say whether or not – before Wednesday – if he supports Patrick Bellity’s takeover project. If it is negative, we would go towards a probable liquidation at a hearing on December 3.

Renault sole client of Sam for about five years therefore has the fate of this company in its hands. If we consider 10 years back, the French manufacturer is over this period the almost sole buyer of the Aveyron company. The foundry manufactured aluminum parts for the diamond group but it also designed prototypes for it. These last years, certain projects, in particular on hybrid engines were developed in the research services of the Sam.

Departure of other customers, one by one

But before, that when the SAM 600 or even 800 employees, it was another story. After belonging to Valeo at the turn of the 90s, in the 2000s, the foundry was among the largest in Europe. It is part of the Arche group (who then employed Patrick Bellity) and then worked with many manufacturers including Germans like Daimler or Mercedes. These are the difficulties of the sector, the‘lack of commercial strategy which will make the customers leave one by one. And so today Renault remains. Renault which financed the various periods of recovery of the Sam. Renault which undertook in the spring to guarantee 40 million of turnover to the company. Renault so who must now undertake in writing to maintain current contracts so that the company can survive.

“Renault prefers to bring these parts from countries at low social and environmental costs “Laurent Giblot

Laurent Giblot, industrial designer for Renault, is the central trade union representative of the car manufacturer. He … not not understand the attitude of his group with several foundries in France and in particular the Sam in Aveyron. “What we reproach Renault is for not keeping the commitments it has contracted with the equipment and foundries, in particular in France. Renault, for anecdotal gains on the prices of parts, prefers to bring These pieces from countries at low social and environmental cost. That rather than favoring industry on the national territory. Environmental cost of traveling by cargo for a handful of cents. We prefer to relocate production abroad more than to favor the National territory.”

The trade unionist who also insists that his company is doing quite well. _ “Renault has order books which are relatively full. By the admission of management, we have never had such low stocks of vehicles. I don’t think it is as catastrophic as we want to say. . ” Renault management said, for its part, does not want to comment on this issue for the moment.