In France, large-scale strikes took place, resulting in 26 companies involved in the production of alcoholic beverages temporarily suspending their operations. This was reported by Kazinform, citing information from BELTA.
According to the LCI television channel, about 80% of workers at well-known producers Ruinart and Moët & Chandon went on strike in the northeastern region of Champagne-Ardenne. The protest was initiated in response to the management's decision to cancel the annual bonus, which has not happened since its introduction in 1967. Trade unions claim that the cancellation of payments could lead to salary reductions of 10-15%, which is a significant loss for many employees.
The report also states that the decision to cancel the bonus may be related to a decline in industry performance. Based on the channel's data, a 33% drop was observed in the first quarter of this year, and a 36% decline is expected in 2024. The reasons for this include restrictions imposed by China on the import of French cognac, as well as a decrease in consumption in the USA, which is a key export market for French producers.
