Danone workers, 250 according to the Urban Police and about 450 according to the unions, have demonstrated at the doors of the French multinational’s headquarters in Barcelona and have thrown yogurt and some eggs against the facade to protest against the closure of the plant. Parets del Vallès (Barcelona). The protest has left abundant yogurt stains on the façade of the Danone headquarters on Buenos Aires Avenue and on the sidewalk at the entrance, where smoke from the flares carried by some protesters could also be seen.
During the protest there were some moments of tension when a group of workers banged on the windows of the company entrance shouting “no to the closure” and the Mossos d’Esquadra asked them to leave.
A demonstration by Danone workers against the tanking of the Parets del Vallès plant is underway in Barcelona. They go along Avinguda Josep Tarradellas ends the company’s name, two days ago they met and went to the address https://t.co/dItLhZs8Xj pic.twitter.com/Kr3wNGKLlO
– Joan García Riera (@JGarciaRiera) February 12, 2024
Police sources have explained to Europa Press that the protesters have tried to enter the headquarters, although a police line has prevented them without using violence. So far, “there have been no charges,” although the organizing unions UGT and CC.OO. of Catalonia plan to extend the protest until 2 p.m.
Danone commits to reaching an agreement
As part of the protest, several members of the works council have met with representatives of Danone management. As the president of the committee, Jordi Barragán, explained to Efe, the company has committed to reaching a “very good agreement for the workers.” Danone’s management in Spain announced a month ago the decision to close the plant and, in principle, offered to relocate 40 of the 157 workers to the facilities it has in Aldaia (Valencia).
Compensation for the transfer will also be offered to people willing to go to Valencia, early retirement from the age of 58 and compensation of 30 days per year worked with a limit of 18 monthly payments, an offer that the unions consider unaffordable and that now seems to be The company could improve. Danone workers demonstrated this Monday in the streets of Barcelona against the decision of the company’s management to close its Parets plant and defended its viability.
The demonstration began around 9:00 a.m. at Sants Station and continued along Josep Tarradellas Avenue to the Danone offices. In statements to the press, the member of the works council Lucas Díaz explained that since the management informed them a month ago of the decision to close the factory, the workers’ representatives have met with the French multinational’s employees on several occasions. . .
Danone has six plants in Spain
“We have presented them with a viability plan to which until now they have not responded,” said Díaz, who explained that this Monday’s demonstration aims to show the total rejection of the Parets plant workers and their families at the closure. . . The workers were dressed in yellow vests with the inscription “Danone, no closure” and carried banners that read “Danone forgets its origins.”
“We have presented them with a feasibility plan to which so far they have not responded”
The Danone works council met last Friday with the president of the Generalitat, Pere Aragonès, and the Business Minister, Roger Torrent, to whom they explained the situation of the company and the affected workers. The Danone group has six plants in Spain, three for dairy and three for water. The Parets plant is part of the industrial facilities that produce dairy, along with Tres Cantos (Madrid) and Aldaia, while the water facilities are in Sant Hilari Sacalm (Girona), Lanjarón (Granada) and Sigüenza (Guadalajara).
