Collective dismissal
At Sun Chemical, in Morges, two days of strike for a better social plan
The 43 employees of the textile inks production site stopped work on Thursday and Friday. The multinational says “surprises”.
Friday was the second day of strike for the staff of Sun Chemical, in Morges. While 43 employees will lose their workstation, the Unia union estimates that the company has not changed in negotiations for a better social plan.
Marie-Lou Dumauthioz
- Sun Chemical employees in Morges protest against the closure of the site scheduled for the end of 2025.
- Negotiations for a more generous social plan concern the 43 employees dedicated to dismissal.
- Management evokes significant losses due to Asian competition.
Some flags of Paris Olympic Games were printed with ink made in Morges. In the Riond-Bosson industrial zone, more precisely, by the company Sun Chemical. Soon, such an order will no longer be possible. The Vaudois site of the multinational closes at the end of the year. The announcement was made this spring to the 43 employees, who will be dismissed.
Since then, with The Unia unionthe latter fight to improve the “very insufficient” social plan of Sun Chemical. On Thursday, the voted raising became a strike, renewed on Friday morning, then suspended in the afternoon, the conciliation office having been seized by the employer.
Sun Chemical beneficiary
For this second day of strike, 25 employees gathered in front of the company face the media. The older ones fear not finding work. “Last year, they made immense profits,” says Joaquim Enrique, 56, resident of Ballens. They could make a gesture, help us a little bit. We have always been correct. They are not correct. ”
Nicole Vassalli, head of the industry sector in Unia Vaud, details the claims: “Licensees should be released to seek and resume a job, while the employer wants to keep them until the last day. It would also take a pre -retirement for the five workers 58 years and over, but the employer sticks to 61 with two years covered. Finally, the allowances for seniority must be reinforced. ”
Pride in Morges
André* will be 61 years old in September, seventeen years of seniority in the box, forty years in the branch. At the head of a small team, this chemist compares his know-how to high watchmaking: “It’s like watches. All products must be perfectly overlapped to have an excellent print quality. ”
Despite this pride, he hopes for an end of career: “The best for me would be a early retirement, since I am very specialized and that companies of this type are in difficulty.” This cross -border owner participated in backup scenarios: “Keep all the staff, only a game, or even – minimal scenario – only the technology part.”
Dominique, a drug operator by training, 62, carries a white blouse enamelled with color spots and does not want to show her face. This beer resident lives “fairly badly” the situation, after two decades in the business.
Marie-Lou Dumauthioz
Dominique, a drug operator by training, 62, carries a white blouse enamelled with colored spots: “An ink must meet a specifications with very specific criteria and a high stability requirement.” This beer resident lives “fairly badly” the situation, after two decades in the company: “The beautiful years, we were asked to work sometimes from 5 am, sometimes until 9 pm or on Saturday. Today, we are made to macerate. If the social plan is not improved, I would have financial concerns for my old days. ”
Pierre-Yves Maillard supports the strike
Pierre-Yves Maillard, President of the Swiss Union Union (USS), came to support the strikers: “A multinational of this type should apply an optimal social plan, and not at the bottom of the scale,” said the socialist senator. This country and this canton are very welcoming, with tax tools and the reduction of the work schedule, but in return we expect respect for the staff and the community. ”
The president of the USS, Pierre-Yves Maillard, spoke to support the strikers.
Marie-Lou Dumauthioz
From Bath (United Kingdom), Peter Saunders, leader of Sun Chemical (groupe DIC), says: “The decision to interrupt work took us by surprise, because the negotiations on the terms of a social plan are underway. We regret that our employees were led to believe that a strike was necessary, but we are nevertheless confident in the possibility of reaching an agreement. ”
Has the Vaudois site of the multinational benefit from a tax exemption for its establishment a quarter of a century ago? “Unfortunately, I am unable to answer this question, but that has not been taken into account in the decision to restructure our Morges site.”
Peter Saunders invokes “the continuous decline in demand for our products, which leads to heavy losses for our Morges site”, “Asian competition” and “the fact that lost demand will not come back”.
Morges, Friday July 11, 2025. Twenty-five of employees face the media Friday morning, on the morning of the second day of strike.
Marie-Lou Dumauthio/Tamedia
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