A demonstration took place in Bethune against the closure of the Bridgestone tire plant

On Sunday 4 October, a demonstration took place in Bethune, France against the closure of the Bridgestone tire factory. It was attended by at least a thousand people, including employees of the Bridgestone plant and their families, local government officials and local residents.

In mid-September, Bridgestone abruptly announced a “permanent shutdown” at its Bethune tire plant, citing overcapacity in Europe and competition from low-cost Asian brands. The plant employs about 860 people, and the loss of these jobs is a big problem for the Bethune-Bruet area, as the Bridgestone plant, which opened in 1961, is considered one of the largest employers in the region after PSA and Roquette.

On September 21, the company hosted a meeting of the French Minister of Labor and Industry, the plant's management and local elected officials. Industry Minister Agnes Panier-Runacher said Bridgestone executives are "exploring a number of scenarios" for the future of the plant. During a new meeting to be held in October, the parties plan to consider various alternatives to the planned production closure.