PARIS, December 4 - Employees of LVMH's wine and spirits division, Moët Hennessy, have been called to strike on Friday by the CGT union, which is demanding negotiations on financial compensation, according to a leaflet seen by Reuters.
This marks the first time a strike has been called targeting Moët Hennessy's major brands, from Hennessy cognacs to Veuve Clicquot champagnes, posing a challenge for Alexandre Arnault, son of billionaire Bernard Arnault, who became deputy CEO of the subsidiary earlier this year.
The CGT is calling for swift negotiations on financial compensation and the payment of a special Christmas bonus for 2025, the leaflet states.
Moët Hennessy did not respond to a request for comment regarding its pay policy.
"Together, let's demand a fairer sharing of wealth at LVMH and MH, commensurate with the collective effort," the CGT writes in the leaflet, which is set to be distributed to employees on Thursday.
"Bernard Arnault must understand that if his group has become the world's leading luxury company, it is largely thanks to the work and expertise of its employees," the leaflet continues.
"We are simply asking, at a minimum, for the maintenance of wages for all Moët Hennessy employees."
Friday's strike is expected to be followed by further days of action in the coming months, two union sources told Reuters.
Strikes are rare in the luxury sector, which, after years of robust growth, is now experiencing a slowdown, with sales plateauing in China and U.S. tariffs weighing on demand.
LVMH's beverages division, accounting for 7% of the French giant's sales, posted a profit of EUR524 million in the first half of 2025, a 33% drop compared to the previous year.
(Reporting by Tassilo Hummel; French version by Zhifan Liu)
by Tassilo Hummel
