No written signs or sung slogans and distributed leaflets. This Thursday, shortly before 11 a.m., at the call of an inter-union CGT / CFDT / CFE-CGC / CFTC / SUPPer a hundred employees gathered in front of the gates of the defense group Thales, avenue du Général-Eisenhower, in the Basso Cambo district, at the gates of Toulouse. Despite their discretion, even if some, dressed in chasubles, display the flag of their union, the fire smolders.
These engineers, for the most part, denounce an annual salary increase of 3.5% paid in April and without retroactivity to 1is January. “This increase may seem comfortable but compared to inflation, it is not sufficient. We demand 4%” says Oanh Le, CFDT secretary of the social and economic committee (CSE).
Events every Thursday
Badge around his neck, Julien testifies to his difficulties in making ends meet: “I’ve eaten up all my personal cash and I’m looking at how to save money”says this engineer who earns 2,400 euros net per month. “In January, I separated from my cleaning lady and I tell myself that I should cycle more often, rain or cold.. »
It is a framing note of the group, distributed to the trade unions in January on the occasion of the obligatory annual negotiations (NAO), which ignited the powder, triggering demonstrations every Thursday for five weeks. The group’s results, published Thursday, March 3, showing a Thales in great shape, crystallized this discontent. Its net profit reached 1.09 billion euros in 2021, compared to 483 million in 2020 and its order intake is up 18%. Profitability is such that the group operates a share buyback.
“These figures are difficult to understand”exasperated Arnaud Beaugeois, development engineer and CFDT deputy union representative. “In avionics [activité de la filiale Thales AVS], 20% of the workforce was cut to cope with the Covid-19 crisis. However, despite the pressure, we continued to satisfy customers in production, operation and research and development. It’s time to reward ourselves with a fair share of wealth since everyone has contributed to the good health of the company. »
“Our movement is inter-subsidiary, inter-union and is a long-term one. This is our only way to bring management back to the negotiating table”, Oanh Le, secretary of the CSE (CFDT)
Emilie, who joined the company three years ago, came to swell the ranks of the demonstrators, before returning home to telecommute. “If there are not enough people at the demonstrations, the management will not listen to us”underlines the young woman.
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