Closure of the St-Prex plant: Vetropack supports employees

01.11.2024: The Vetropack Group has appointed Christian Schmutz as Location Responsible of its St-Prex site as of October 1, 2024. Schmutz is taking on a crucial role during a phase that represents an enormous emotional challenge for both the company and its employees. After his first month as director, he discusses the developments of the recent months and the social plan for the St-Prex employees.

Mr. Schmutz, the last bottles manufactured in St-Prex left production on June 27, 2024. This marked the end of an era.

Indeed – an era of 113 years of glass production. It has been very painful for all of us and a big shift for many people in the region. Some employees have worked at the plant their whole lives. I, myself, have been working here at the St-Prex site since 2015. As maintenance manager, and later as technical manager, I have come to know both the plant and my colleagues well – and I feel very close to them. 

This site has played a key role in shaping both the economic and social life of St-Prex and the Vetropack Group for many decades. Considering this makes the strikes that took place earlier this year understandable. It is also why we were all the happier when we were able to reach a mutual agreement with the employee representatives and trade unions.

What is the current situation in St-Prex?

After we stopped production on June 27, we had to let go of around half of the workforce by the end of September. With a heavy heart – most of them were long-standing employees like me. At the moment, around 80 employees are still working at the plant. They continue to handle tasks such as re-sorting bottles that have already been produced, managing logistics and distribution, processing cullet, and decommissioning the production equipment. Unfortunately, more colleagues will have to leave us by the end of 2025.

What does the social plan for employees look like?

Vetropack has developed socially responsible solutions for all employees. They include severance payments based on age and length of service of the individual employees. Our HR department also consults individually with all those affected in order to provide them with the best possible support in their search for a new job. 

So, the social plan applies to everyone?

Yes, the social plan applies to apprentices, part-time, and long-term employees alike. We support each person according to their specific situation. For example, Vetropack has engaged an employment agency that conducted interviews here at our plant. We also organised information events in cooperation with the unemployment insurance fund. And the HR team asked companies in the region to inform Vetropack employees about any vacancies in advance. Vetropack gives every employee four days off per month for job searches, interviews, and training courses – six days for those over the age of 55. Since mid-August, any employee who has found a new job can leave Vetropack immediately to begin their new role with another employer. 

What is your main focus as the new Location Responsible?

My team and I are focusing on maintenance of the buildings and infrastructure as well as the safe dismantling of the production facilities and the ongoing processing of cullet. Taking responsibility for the site in this sensitive phase is a task I approach with great respect. I would like to thank all employees for their continued commitment during this difficult and painful time. My thanks and respect also go to my predecessors, Gerd Buchmayer, who managed the site from February to the end of September 2024, and, of course, Philippe Clerc. For now, our top priority is safely dismantling and decommissioning the facilities. At the same time, we are doing everything possible to minimise uncertainty during this transition and to continue providing our colleagues on site with the best possible support.