An agreement was signed in mid-April by the CGT and CFDT inter-union of the Fibre Excellence pulp mill in Tarascon, which among other things provides for a reduction in wage costs. The management welcomed this decision, which it described in a press release as essential "to give the plant a chance, to save its jobs and those of the industry that depend on it. During the staff consultation, 148 employees voted against the agreement and 128 in favor.
The pulp mill, which employs nearly 280 people, has been in receivership since October 8. At the beginning of the year, the commercial court received a single takeover offer from the mill's current main shareholder, the Canadian pulp and printing paper manufacturer Paper Excellence. The manufacturer had then set as conditions to its takeover offer the reduction of social costs and the profitability of the plant.
With the signing of this agreement, Paper Excellence has promised to retain 256 of its 273 employees. The company also announced its willingness to obtain financing for a green power plant. The takeover plan must also include guarantees on long-term wood supply, fair taxation from the regional water agency, and a two-year moratorium on regulatory change requests.
Fibre Excellence Tarascon produces 270,000 tons of pulp per year and plays an important role for the territory with a direct impact on other actors of the wood industry.
Classified as a Seveso 2 plant, the company was also sued for several years by local residents and environmental associations for air pollution. It was acquitted on Wednesday 31 March by the criminal court.
