Seated at the table sheltered from the wind and the rain, the good mood remains at the rendezvous. But behind the smiles there is still concern. For the employees of the Tereos sugar refinery, in Escaudoeuvres, near Cambrai, in the North, the future suddenly darkened on March 9. “At 10 am”, specifies Loïc, who has not forgotten the time of the announcement. That morning, factory managers announced to their 153 employees that the food giant was closing the site permanently. Only about twenty people had to stay on to take care of the maintenance of the old production tool.
But, since this announcement, unions and employees have organized the response. The entrance to the site is guarded, day and night, by a handful of volunteers who take turns, according to a well-established schedule. “We will stay until the end of the social plan, scheduled for June 17. We are just asking to work”, emphasizes Alain*. “We keep our home with a watchful eye,” adds his colleague, with a smile.
“The important thing is to keep the motivation”
At the entrance to the huge site that has become silent, two tents have been set up. The first belongs to the town hall, the second was loaned by colleagues from the Boiry-Sainte-Rictrude sugar refinery, in Pas-de-Calais. “We play belote or pétanque, weather permitting. The important thing is to keep the motivation”, slips Pierre *, in work clothes.
This Friday, their representatives had the opportunity to meet, once again, the Minister of Industry, Roland Lescure, who was going to Cambrai to discuss the future of Tereos. Local elected officials were also invited, but also Buitoni delegates. Since Thursday, the factory which manufactured pizzas on behalf of Nestlé, has experienced the same fate as the Escaudoeuvres sugar refinery. The contaminated pizza scandal a year ago was used as an argument to definitively stop production and put an end to the contract of 150 employees, there too.
As with Buitoni, misunderstanding prevails within the small group of seven people. Why this closure? Not very talkative, some still follow the path when you insist a little. “The purchase of a gas boiler which cost 24 million euros was perhaps a bad choice, at the wrong time, wonders Jean *, an angry executive. It might have been necessary to invest in energy savings. We are paying for the negligence of our leaders. »
Festivities canceled
“Which scares me,” he admits. It’s that if we close, unfortunately we won’t be the last to do so. » The end of the sugar economy? At Escaudoeuvres, 2,000 tonnes of sugar were produced per day during what was called the beet season, between October and January. At 1,000 euros per tonne, that gives an idea of turnover. And yet, Tereos considers that this historic site is no longer profitable.
In particular, the decline in sowing (act of sowing) of beets, up to 10%, according to management. “This decline is more felt in the Marne than at home. It doesn’t make sense, argues Jean. Especially since in February, the box was still recruiting staff. »
And that festivities were ready to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the factory, the weekend of March 18 and 19, only ten days after the announcement of the closure. “A race was to be organized in the heart of the factory, it was replaced by a march for employment”, explains Christophe *, annoyed.
Stocks of sugar and syrup
“Everyone was taken aback. What lifts our spirits is solidarity. Boiry’s colleagues went on strike to support us. People bring us food and drink. They have known this factory too well,” says Jean*. A few days after the announcement, 400 came to support the employees in front of the factory.
For Pierre*, 9 years of seniority, this closure is experienced as a blow. “It’s hard to lose your job. I have a 10 month old child. I thought I would make my career here. I never thought it could close, ”he says. Like his colleagues, he now hopes that the pressure will allow good starting conditions.
Because the occupation of the factory is also a kind of sequestration of stocks of sugar and syrup in the silos. “It’s white gold that can be used in negotiations”, persuades Michel*. Just to believe in it a little longer. Even though Santa Claus is an unusual figure for these workers. “You know, assures one of them. Because of the beet campaign to be insured, we had about a family Christmas every eight years. »
*Names have been changed.