Employees at Ahlstrom's Bousbecque site remain mobilized. Calling on the CFDT/CGT/CFTC Intersyndicale, they marched through the streets of the northern town on Wednesday, July 3, behind an explicit banner demanding that their jobs be maintained "Abandoning Ahlstrom - Looking for honest investors".
Last spring, Ahlstrom announced has not been able to find a solution that would enable it to continue operating its plant in Lille. The Finnish group has given itself until July 26 to find a buyer, or the Nordic site will be closed and the hundred or so employees laid off at the end of September.
In this case, greaseproof paper production would be relocated to Saint-Séverin in Charente. This centralization of activities would enable the Finn to reduce production costs and improve competitiveness.
Guillaume Latourrette, Vice-President of Ahlstrom's global food business, said last April "examine all possible options in order to minimize any social consequences" . During the march for jobs, the Intersyndicale union declared that it remained hopeful that the jobs of the site's employees would be maintained. The future of the Bousbecque paper mill is at stake right now.
