French government will fight the closure of the Bridgestone plant

The French government is exploring all options to prevent the closure of the Bridgestone tire plant in Bethune. This was announced on Thursday 17 September by the Minister of Finance and Economy of the country Bruno Le Maire.

Bridgestone announced on Wednesday 16 September that it would begin negotiations to close the Bethune plant, which employs 863 people. The reason for the closure is weak demand for low-profile tires produced there.

“Bridgestone made a terrible decision. The method is terrible, the consequences are terrible, and we will fight [against the closure], ”Le Maire said in an interview with CNews.

Job retention is a top priority for the French government as it strives to rebuild the country's economy. France has experienced one of the deepest economic downturns of any country in Europe this year due to extremely tough measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

French Labor Minister Elisabeth Borne said she will visit a tire plant in northern France on Monday 21 September to meet with its management and employee representatives.

“We want Bridgestone to consider all possible scenarios [of the fate of the plant]. Her responsibilities include considering all alternatives, ”the minister explained.

In an official statement, the Minister of Labor called Bridgestone's actions "brutal." The company, says Elisabeth Bornet, is to blame for this situation, as it "abandoned investment in the Bethune plant for many years, opting for its other European plants." Jean-Luc Ruckebusch, CGT union spokesman at the plant, agreed: “Bridgestone did everything to kill the Bethune plant. We will do our best to save him. "

French officials urged the company to consider alternatives for the plant. In addition, the French government will consider ways to "re-industrialize" the plant to protect jobs.