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16 March, 2003Protests continue since the steel group announced its restructuring plans in January.
BELGIUM/EUROPE: In solidarity with Belgian workers affected by the closure of Arcelor's "hot phase" division in the Liege region, the European Metalworkers' Federation is calling for a European Action Day on April 25, 2003. Arcelor announced its decision to shut down this division two months ago, without proper consultation with the workforce involved.
The EMF says the closure will result in approximately 3,300 direct job losses in the region and an expected total of 6,000, when including jobs lost in supplier companies and indirect employment in Liege. An EMF spokesperson stated that a loss of employment on this scale would be "a direct threat to the complete socio-economic structure of the region and will have catastrophic consequences in many fields."
The closure of the "hot phase" division in the Liege region is part of an overall strategy of the steelmaker which will affect both the flat carbon and inox sectors in Belgium, France and Germany.
Arcelor was formed in 2002 with the merger of Luxembourg's Arbed, Spain's Aceralia and France's Usinor and is now the world's largest steelmaking group.