• Nearly 80 employees have been on strike for more than a month and take turns non-stop, day and night, in front of the Vertbaudet logistics site, in Marquette-lez-Lille, in the North.
  • Above all, employees are demanding an increase in wages. Most strikers receive the minimum wage, even after several years of seniority.
  • Strikers and management are sticking to their position, preventing, for the moment, a quick way out of the crisis.

"We used to be sheep. Now we have become lionesses. ». Alisson, a CGT union official at VertBaudet, does not mince his words. In Marquette-lez-Lille, in the North, nearly 80 employees, the vast majority of them women, are on strike. For more than a month they have been taking turns non-stop, day and night, in front of the children's warehouse. A totally unprecedented social conflict on this site which employs 320 people.

Sheltered under plastic sheeting, the rain does not stop them. "What we want is an increase in wages," demands Manon, a CGT union delegate. This demand is on all the mouths of the strikers who ensure that no seniority bonus is paid and that the vast majority of them continue to receive the Smic (about 1,380 euros). And yet, some have been there for more than twenty years.

A "general fed up"

VertBaudet is one of the largest French companies, specializing in the sale of children's clothing and furniture. Present on e-commerce as well as in stores, the brand is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Sixty years of hard work for its employees who express a "general fed up".

This is why, since March 20, the strikers have been installed on the side of the road, in the industrial zone. "The movement started with demonstrations for pension reform," says Alisson. CGT activists came at 4 a.m. to block access to the site. That's how we took the initiative to go on strike. But without blocking the entrance to the site. »



Standing near a brazier, employees discuss past events over the past month. One is an attendant to get the pizzas, further away, another takes care of her son. All regret the stubbornness of the management. "With inflation, we can't get out of it anymore!" exclaims Martine*, an employee in the warehouse.

A lot of solidarity

A conciliation meeting did take place a few days ago, but it did not succeed. "Management continues to refuse any salary increase," Manon said. To financially support the strikers, strike funds have been set up. "We notice that people are generally very supportive, there are many cars that stop to help us and give us money," says Alisson.

In addition, Sophie Binet, general secretary of the CGT, called Friday, during a visit to the striking staff, for a boycott of the brand until negotiations on wages are opened. She also denounced the hiring of temporary workers to replace strikers. An infringement noted by the labour inspectorate, according to our information. The management will also have to explain Tuesday before the court of Lille on the subject.

This will be a new stage in the conflict between the two sides. "We know we'll get this wage increase, we're not going to give up now," Alisson said. "And the employees who do not strike will be very happy to get them, these increases," adds Manon. According to her, VertBaudet has achieved "extraordinary figures" during the Covid-19 crisis. And a week before the start of the movement, the strikers remember that the CEO, Mathieu Hamelle, had admitted that "the treasury was doing very well".

* First name has been changed.

The point of view of the management of VertBaudet

When contacted, the management of VertBaudet explained that it had signed an agreement on wages with two majority trade union organizations: FO and the CFTC. "The strikers' demands for a 20% increase would represent an additional salary package greater than the amount of profits and would immediately put the company in financial difficulty," she said, considering that wage conditions "are above the remuneration of the vast majority of its logistics competitors".

It also ensures that "warehouse employees receive annually 17% more than the legal SMIC", thanks in particular to a thirteenth month. Also proposed are "more days of paid leave depending on seniority, from 1 day for 5 years of seniority to 7 days for 20 years of seniority".

Finally, the management considers that "the climate of threats, intimidation, physical degradation by people outside the company and claiming to be from the CGT union can in no way constitute a framework for dialogue". She announced that she had filed a complaint for violence and damage last week.

  • Strike
  • Lille
  • Hauts-de-France
  • CGT
  • Society