Read this article in:
29 January, 2007
A three-week strike by ICEM Belgian affiliate La Centrale Générale FGTB against ArjoWiggins is expected to end today at two paper mills. Union members over the weekend voted, by a 62% margin, to approve an amended company proposal that calls for a restructuring of the two Wallonian mills.
Union members had twice before rejected the company’s proposed social plan, once on 15 January, and again on 23 January. French-based ArjoWiggins is closing a paper mill and converting operation in Nivelles, and will transfer the paper converting portion there to the company’s paper mill in Virginal-Samme.
The restructuring was to make 147 workers redundant, as well as 80 temporary employees. The company manufactures carbonless writing and printing papers at both locations. ArjoWiggins future plans for Nivelles are to use the mill merely for warehousing and logistics.
The company and workers’ representatives, led by FGTB, came to a satisfactory agreement on 26 January, after pressure was brought on the company by both federal and provincial employment ministries. Belgium’s federal labour ministry will conduct a final conciliation hearing on the dispute tomorrow, 30 January.
ArjoWiggins is owned by the French holding company Sequana Capital, formerly called Worms & Cie. Sequana is primarily owned by the Agnelli family of Italy.