Workers and government ministers alike had feared, even expected it. But when giant French car manufacturer PSA Peugeot Citroën announced it was axing 8,000 jobs in France and closing its plant at Aulnay-sous-Bois on the edge of Paris the news still fell like a bombshell. For workers in some of the country's most deprived areas it means redundancy at a time of high unemployment in France and continuing gloom over the French and European economies. For François Hollande's new socialist government it is the first major social test of its promise to bring “change” to the country and his pledge to focus on jobs and economic growth rather than austerity.
You are a subscriber
Login
If you are not already a subscriber,
subscribe here
Choose a subscription offer and create your account to read all content on Mediapart
Create your account