Worker Union Actions Disrupt Certain Dassault Plants

In an unusual display of industrial discontent at several Dassault factories, a worker union has been conducting repeated, brief strikes that might eventually affect Falcon deliveries but have not yet done so. At issue is the perceived discrepancy between the company’s financial health and the proposed general wage increase. Since March 12, covert strikes have been taking place at the Argenteuil factory near Paris, a representative from the CGT union told AIN. At least once a week, workers stop for 30 to 60 minutes; on May 29 the stoppage lasted four hours, he said. About one third of Argenteuil’s 900 employees participate, according to the representative. Another action, also happening at other factories, has been work to rule, he added.

At the Bordeaux Mérignac factory, the CGT union is blocking aircraft that are ready for flight-test. This has had an impact on Dassault’s military aircraft, but the business jet test schedule has proceeded almost unchanged, another CGT representative acknowledged. The strikes have not delayed Falcon deliveries so far, according to a Dassault spokesperson.

During annual negotiations, management and the union failed to reach an agreement on a general raise for salaries. In fact, the company’s management team withdrew a proposal for a 0.5-percent increase, according to the CGT. The union contends that 2014 and 2015 have been good years for Falcon and Rafale sales, thus justifying a more generous wage hike.