‘The only struggles you don’t win are the ones you don’t wage…’

AULNAY-SOUS-BOIS, FRANCE, May 17 — The four-month strike of Peugeot workers against one of the richest and most powerful bosses in France ended today, unable to prevent the planned closing of the plant here, scheduled for 2014. The strikers received $1.1 million in donations, indicating enormous popular support, but were weakened by the fact that they could not widen the walkout to the rest of the company’s factories nor to the country’s auto industry. The strike cost Peugeot a production loss of 40,000 cars.
The workers condemned the active complicity of the Socialist Party government. They fought the latter’s attempt to throw a monkey wrench into the strike, hauling militant workers into police stations. A local strike leader declared, “We have been treated like delinquents whereas our struggle is…against unemployment and for jobs.”
The workers did win payment for unemployed days, holidays and a bonus equivalent to a month’s wages. Those choosing to leave prior to May 31 will receive 19,700 euros ($25,400) and strikers will get 60,000 euros ($77,400) severance pay. All other workers will receive 40,000 euros ($51,600). They also forced the company to re-hire the four fired strikers, canceling any criminal charges.
A local strike leader said, “We didn’t have the strength necessary to bring Peugeot to its knees, but we thwarted them for four months and we are finishing still standing, our heads high. The only struggles you don’t win are the ones you don’t wage…”