Strike at second McCain Foods plant in France

A strike at McCain Foods in France has expanded to a second factory. The strike started a week ago sunday at McCain’s french fry plant in Matouges.

As of today, the McCain plant in Harnes is on strike as well.

Employees at the French plants demand a wage increase of 10%. However, McCain management has dismissed that proposal as “unrealistic” given the current economic circumstances.

The McCain’s Matouges plant has a staff of 200 people and is home of the largest french fry production line in the world (25 ton of frozen french fries/hour). Much of the production of the Matouges factory is exported to Southern Europe for use by fast food restaurants.

Harnes, which is also McCain’s headquarters for continental Europe, employs 500 people, about half of them in production. The factory in Harnes produces 700 ton of frozen french fries per day.

Friday some french fries were produced in Matouges as the result of the work of 50 not striking employees.

Supply of French fries to McCain’s customers such as McDonald’s is not in immediate danger, as McCain Foods has adjusted production schedules at other production plants in Europe.