A disgruntled mechanic claims that the Ultium CAM battery factory rejected his resume because it was written in French and requested a new version “in English,” and that he was also prevented from attending his interview in Quebec’s official language lead.
“I sent them my CV in French last February. They asked me to send it back to them in English. A few weeks later I had an interview. They told me: “We will do the interview in Korean,” complained David W., whom Le Journal gave a fictitious name for fear of reprisals for his denunciation.
“The official language of Quebec is French. It’s not English. Foreign companies that set up here with our subsidies have to speak French,” complained the outraged Quebecer of Korean origin who came here in his 30s.
Nearly $152 million in public funding
In Bécancour, the Ultium CAM factory, owned by the American General Motors (GM) and the South Korean POSCO, is one of the key areas of the battery industry. She received a loan of almost $152 million from Quebec, including $134 million forgiven by the Legault government.
The Ultium CAM factory was built last summer. Photo Francis Halin
The Centre-du-Québec factory plans to hire 200 workers to produce GM battery materials used in electric Hummers and Cadillacs in an effort to green the economy.
But for David W., South Korean steel giant POSCO’s actions during the hiring process touch something deep inside him.
David W. cannot digest the fact that a foreign giant is setting up shop in Quebec while ignoring the French fact. Photo agency QMI, JOEL LEMAY
“It shocked me because I am of Korean descent. The Japanese colonized my country. “We were forced to speak Japanese, so I’m reacting to that,” the man breathes calmly.
Already two complaints to the OQLF
When asked by Le Journal, the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) confirmed that it had already received two complaints against Ultium CAM.
“The two complaints concerned the requirement of a language other than French for access to a post. As provided for in the Charter, they have been transferred to the Commission on Standards, Equity, Health and Safety at Work (CNESST),” said its spokesperson Chantal Bouchard.
“It is the CNESST that is responsible for dealing with certain complaints related to the working language, particularly those concerning the need for a language other than French to access a job,” he said. She adds.
“An imbroglio”
In recent days, Le Journal discovered that certain positions for technicians and maintenance engineers at Ultium CAM in Bécancour did not require knowledge of French.
When asked by Le Journal, the company quickly invoked “Imbroglio”.
“French is very important for the managers of Ultium CAM. I confirm to you that this is a matter of ambiguity that we will resolve as quickly as possible,” assured human resources manager Anabelle Jolicoeur Tétreault.
Promise of Frenchization
Ultium CAM was asked to explain the case of David W. but declined for “legal reasons.”
“The various Korean managers present in Quebec for Ultium CAM take French courses because they consider it essential and make it part of our organizational culture,” Ms. Jolicoeur Tétreault responded to the Journal.
Ultium CAM responds that it respects Law 96, in particular the publication of job offers in French and the “francization program” aimed at generalizing the use of French in its activities.
“We also confirm that the working language of the Ultium CAM factory will be French and that our organization complies with the various Quebec regulations regarding the French language,” she concluded.
-In collaboration with Yves Lévesque
►The newspaper It was also learned that the CNESST issued a “corrective notice” to the Ultium CAM factory regarding the safety of an aerial platform in another file. The operation took place on October 26 after a complaint. The employer complied with this obligation.