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21 September, 2011ArcelorMittal has announced the idling of its 2nd blast furnace in Florange, France, from October 3, 2011 for an unspecified duration. The IMF affiliates in France, the FGMM-CFDT, FO Métaux, FGM-CGT, and CFE-CGC criticise the decision.
FRANCE: 500 metalworkers gathered on September 9 in a joint union protest of CGT-CFDT-FO-CGC/CFE against the decision to idle the blast furnace
On the whole, more than one thousand workers may be affected, says FGMM, in addition to more than 400 temporary employees already dismissed and several hundred workers at subcontractors.
The shutdown would be implemented in spite of the fact that ArcelorMittals' coastal sites run at full capacity including overtime work.
The FO Métaux condemns ArcelorMittals' decision, and warns that it endangers the ULCOS project (Ultra-Low Carbon dioxide Steelmaking) for CO²-scrubbing at blast furnaces, a European programme for which France alone has contributed 150 million Euro. Instead, the FO asks for the distribution of the production between the three French sites: FOS, Dunkirk and Florange.
FGM-CGT calls ArcelorMittals' decision a speculative step, and reminds that ArcelorMittal recorded net profits during the first six months of 2011 of 2,6 billion US$, compared to 2,3 billion in the first half of 2010.
According to CFE-CGC Métgallurgie the closing makes it difficult to maintain the employees' skills and motivation, endangering a relaunch of the blast furnace.
French Labour Minister Xavier Bertrand and Minister for Industry Éric Besson intervened with ArcelorMittals CEO for France Hervé Bourrier, who assured the ministers that the company will make the necessary investments to be able to restart the blast furnace in Florange as soon as demand picks up, writes Le Figaro.
3000 metalworkers are employed at the site in Florange.
On the whole, more than one thousand workers may be affected, says FGMM, in addition to more than 400 temporary employees already dismissed and several hundred workers at subcontractors.
The shutdown would be implemented in spite of the fact that ArcelorMittals' coastal sites run at full capacity including overtime work.
The FO Métaux condemns ArcelorMittals' decision, and warns that it endangers the ULCOS project (Ultra-Low Carbon dioxide Steelmaking) for CO²-scrubbing at blast furnaces, a European programme for which France alone has contributed 150 million Euro. Instead, the FO asks for the distribution of the production between the three French sites: FOS, Dunkirk and Florange.
FGM-CGT calls ArcelorMittals' decision a speculative step, and reminds that ArcelorMittal recorded net profits during the first six months of 2011 of 2,6 billion US$, compared to 2,3 billion in the first half of 2010.
According to CFE-CGC Métgallurgie the closing makes it difficult to maintain the employees' skills and motivation, endangering a relaunch of the blast furnace.
French Labour Minister Xavier Bertrand and Minister for Industry Éric Besson intervened with ArcelorMittals CEO for France Hervé Bourrier, who assured the ministers that the company will make the necessary investments to be able to restart the blast furnace in Florange as soon as demand picks up, writes Le Figaro.
3000 metalworkers are employed at the site in Florange.