Mélenchon calls for a boycott of Vertbaudet, as requested by the CGT

POLITICS – The leader of the Insoumis Jean-Luc Mélenchon called for a boycott of Verbaudet and denounced this Monday, May 22 in Tourcoing (Nord) the “police violence against workers” during a rally in support of the brand’s employees. The latter have been on strike for more than two months for their wages, a movement which he described as“exemplary”.

This rally brought together in front of the head office of the childcare brand, CGT activists and representatives of left-wing parties.

“We know that today, the greatest concentration of the working class in this country is in the logistics platforms and that we experience a particular relationship to work there: badly paid, temporary workers, racialized people and so on! »launched Jean-Luc Mélenchon, calling to follow the call for a boycott of Vertbaudet launched by the CGT.

” We close ranks and follow the instructions of the union: we must boycott ” because ” because of his boss, Vertbaudet is now synonymous with brutality, wickedness and cruelty against working women “, he hammered.

“The police I dream of is […] one who respects

“We cannot accept police violence against workers” he also pointed. “The police I dream of is the police of the Republic, the one that respects, (…) not a police that beats women, not a police that twists their necks, which strangles. »

Tensions have been high in recent weeks around this strike movement, which concerns around 70 employees out of 327. The strikers at the Marquette-lez-Lille warehouse have been repeatedly dislodged from their picket line by the police.

A striker said she was going to file a complaint for violence by a police officer who held her with an arm around her neck during an evacuation.

The Lille prosecutor’s office opened an investigation after violence reported by the local CGT union against a union representative, who was allegedly beaten by people presenting themselves as “plainclothes police”came to question him in front of his home.

“Where is Darmanin’s tweet to denounce the people who kidnapped a worker in France in 2023 to beat and humiliate him? »was indignant Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

Disagreement over annual negotiations

The CGT, a minority, refused in early March to sign an agreement on mandatory annual negotiations (NAO), validated by FO and the CFTC. This agreement does not provide for a general salary increase, but a value-sharing bonus of 650 euros in 2023 and other benefits (meal bonuses, additional paid vacation days, etc.)

The union, which is demanding a net 150 euro salary increase, rejected new management proposals on Monday, including the payment to employees of a performance bonus of up to 200 euros gross.

A rally of support is to be held Tuesday in Paris, in front of the headquarters of the investment fund Equistone Partners Europe, majority shareholder of Vertbaudet.

See also on The HuffPost: