Reorganization: a double-edged announcement
On Friday January 10, 2025, AkzoNobel unveiled an ambitious but controversial transformation project. The Dutch paint and coatings specialist plans to cut up to 211 of its 1,300 jobs in France. At the same time, 29 new positions will be created, and its Montataire (Oise) site will benefit from a 22 million euro investment, aimed at modernizing this key plant for the European market.
A direct impact on Montataire
Located in the heart of the Oise industrial basin, the Montataire site, which employs 340 people, is at the heart of this plan. While the announced investment is intended to make it a "major AkzoNobel site for Europe", it could also lead to the loss of 89 jobs and the creation of 23 new ones. A paradoxical situation for employees, who see modernization of facilities and downsizing coexisting.
Concern and union mobilization
The unions, taken by surprise by the announcement, denounce the lack of clarity in the company's intentions. "We're going to have a great production tool, but with fewer people", laments a CFDT delegate, underlining a strategy she deems contradictory. The CGT questions the nature of future discussions with management, warning that the absence of dialogue could tense the situation.
A major blow for the Oise industrial region
For Montataire, this reorganization plan is a new ordeal. AkzoNobel is one of the few remaining major industrial players in the region, and this announcement rekindles fears of a decline in the local economic fabric. AkzoNobel claims that these changes are aimed at "rationalizing, modernizing and optimizing" its activities in France. Job cuts should be accompanied by measures to limit forced departures and support affected employees. However, the social and economic impact remains a major concern for elected representatives and employees alike.
