It is in a context of tensions and rifts rarely seen within a collective of employees that the commercial court of Evry-Courcouronnes decided, Wednesday, November 17, the liquidation of the Bergams company, in cessation. of payments for fifteen days. He was the first employer in Grigny (Essonne), one of the poorest towns in France.
Of the 283 employees of the company specializing in “ultra-fresh snacking”, who prepared salads and triangle sandwiches for SNCF, Monoprix, Servair, Starbucks and for many company restaurants in the Paris region, around 100 (35% ) had been on strike for two months to denounce a collective performance agreement (CPA) applied since January.
This has increased working time and lowered the remuneration of some of the employees, in particular on production lines. The only way, according to management, to save this company hit by the health crisis, its customers having significantly reduced their orders. Just profitable before the Covid-19 pandemic, after years of loss, it saw its turnover fall by 55% in 2020, and ended with a deficit of 8.6 million euros. Its equity is negative.
The activity of the company was almost at a standstill since the first day of the protest, on September 14. Because although in the minority, most of the strikers worked on the production lines (90% on strike) and in the preparation of orders. The management also accuses them of having completely blocked deliveries and shipments from the start of the movement, which they dispute. The title of the press release released by Bergams on Thursday is straightforward: for the company, liquidation is “The direct consequence” the blocking of its production site in Grigny.
Impact on the payroll
Five days earlier, with the sign “blocking = unemployment” around their necks, a front of non-striking employees had come to give voice to the strikers gathered in front of the commercial court of Evry, while the hearing was taking place there. . “It was because of the strikers that the company sank, not because of the bosses”, murdered an employee. “The APC, they signed it! Yes, some have lost wages, but there was a referendum, we made a choice. We made this sacrifice to keep our jobs. The activity was off to a good start, they ruined everything! “, called another. “You are being manipulated by management! Do you think we lost two months of salary to see the box shut down? “, retorted a striker.
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