Grudiva lays off 37 workers from its factory in Granollers and moves the machinery to India

The industrial company Grudiva has filed for a workforce reduction plan (ERE) to lay off 37 workers from one of its plants in Granollers (Vallès Oriental). The company has belonged to the Indian group Sanjeev since 2012, and members of the works council told ARA that their plan is to transfer the machinery and operations of this Catalan factory—it has two located on the same avenue—to India. This decision represents the dismissal of a third of Grudiva's workforce, a company founded 70 years ago in Granollers. In justifying the ERE, the company cites organizational, production, and economic reasons. Sources explain that 90% of Grudiva's revenue comes from the leading American manufacturer of tractors and agricultural machinery, John Deere. Specifically, the employees affected by the layoffs are dedicated to producing the gears necessary for these vehicles to function. The unions suspect, therefore, that the American group—which this year filed for temporary layoffs (ERTE) at its Spanish subsidiary in Madrid—wants to take advantage of the fact that Sanjeev also has factories in India to relocate its production and thus reduce labor and operating costs. "They've already moved the machines there," the works council reports. The ERTE was registered on November 7th, and since then the clock has started ticking for negotiations during the one-month consultation period. The unions—CGT and CCOO—want to reach an agreement to minimize layoffs, relocate workers to other divisions of the group, and guarantee early retirement plans so that departures are "as painless as possible." "There are people who started at the factory as apprentices and have been here for over 30 years," they emphasize. Closure in two stages

But what the works council fears most is that this first round of layoffs is the prelude to a two-stage closure of Grudiva's factories in the Vallès region, which has seen a drop in revenue in recent years. ARA has contacted the company for comment, but has not yet received a response. "We're afraid the other machines have already been sold. We've asked for a viability plan, but who's to say they aren't planning to do the same?" ask the workers' representatives, who have also met with the Granollers City Council to convey their concerns and seek their support.

This is the second industrial workforce reduction plan for the Vallès municipality in just one week, after Japanese company Hi-Lex will announce the closure of its plant of components for the automotive sector. This decision will result in the dismissal of 67 workers.