2024-11-19 18:09:00
The steelmaker ArcelorMittal announced to its unions on Tuesday the “ possible shutdown » of two industrial service sites, at “ Reims and Denain “, due to a “ difficult economic context » linked to its industrial and automotive customers. “ The management of the ArcelorMittal Service Centers company brought together the members of its CSE to inform them of a project to reorganize the company and adapt its production capacities. This project includes the possible shutdown of the ArcelorMittal Service Centers production sites in Reims and Denain », Indicates ArcelorMittal France Tuesday evening in a brief press release.
According to our colleagues at L’Union« between 100 and 150 employees » of the 200 on the Reims site would lose their jobs, according to announcements made this Tuesday, with support functions being preserved. For Benoît Jean-Leroy, CFDT delegate (first union on the site), “ activity is down in Reims because the group has withdrawn profitable markets from Reims to transfer them elsewhere ».
Around thirty positions in Denain
The Reims factory, historically specialized in the processing of thin steel coils, has seen its activity divided almost in half in two years, according to The Uniongoing from a volume of 260,000 tonnes processed in 2021 to a volume of 140,000 tonnes in 2023.
But ArcelorMittal’s announcement also concerns the Denain site, in the North, where around thirty positions would be eliminated, central CGT union delegate David Blaise and CFE-CGC coordinator Xavier Le Coq told AFP. Here too, a very hard blow for the teams which had been in the spotlight this summer, for having participated in the manufacture of the Olympic rings hung on the Eiffel Tower.
“We fear other closures”
During this meeting this Tuesday, “ Management explained the constraints which led it to present this project, and invited the social partners to a future meeting at the end of November as part of the information/consultation process. », Continues the ArcelorMittal press release. A delocalized CSE will be held in Metz on Monday, November 25.
« We will ask employees to strike during this CSE and study a movement afterwards. To fight, the means will be limitednotes a CFDT representative for the inter-union interviewed by France 3 Champagne-Ardenne. Today we are seeing a disengagement of the group in Europe, so the steel industry is the leading CO2 polluter, we must decarbonize our industry, and for some time now, we have seen that the group is moving towards investments in the United States, in Brazil and India. We fear other closures on other sites. »
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What specific measures is the union advocating for to support workers who may lose their jobs due to the potential shutdown of the Reims facility?
**Interview with Benoît Jean-Leroy, CFDT Delegate at ArcelorMittal Reims**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Benoît. ArcelorMittal recently announced the possible shutdown of the Reims and Denain sites. Can you share how this decision has impacted the workers at the Reims facility?
**Benoît Jean-Leroy:** Thank you for having me. The news has been incredibly difficult for our team. We’re looking at the potential loss of between 100 and 150 jobs, which affects nearly all our production staff. Many workers are understandably anxious about their futures and the job market in general.
**Editor:** What do you attribute this decision to? You mentioned in a recent statement that market conditions played a role.
**Benoît Jean-Leroy:** Yes, indeed. The management’s decision is rooted in what they describe as a “difficult economic context” impacting our industrial and automotive clients. They’ve gradually shifted profitable markets away from Reims to other locations, which has severely reduced our activity. In two years, our processed volume has dropped from 260,000 tonnes to just 140,000 tonnes.
**Editor:** That’s a significant decline. How has the union been responding to these developments?
**Benoît Jean-Leroy:** We are in active negotiations to seek better outcomes for our members. We’ve requested a comprehensive plan that includes support for those who may lose their jobs. This includes retraining programs and potential relocation assistance. We’re determined to fight for our workers’ rights and ensure they’re treated fairly throughout this process.
**Editor:** There are also reports of potential closures in Denain. How do you feel about the situation there?
**Benoît Jean-Leroy:** The news from Denain is equally concerning as they face job losses as well. Our solidarity with them is strong, as this is a challenging time across the board for ArcelorMittal’s operations in France. Everyone is closely watching how these proposed changes unfold.
**Editor:** Moving forward, what steps will the union take in this consultation process with management?
**Benoît Jean-Leroy:** We’ve been invited for further discussions with management at the end of November, and we plan to express our concerns robustly. Our priority is to advocate for our workers and ensure that any decisions made prioritize their welfare. This includes striving for transparency throughout the process and exploring all possible avenues to prevent these closures.
**Editor:** Thank you for your insights, Benoît. We wish you and your colleagues the best as you navigate these challenges.
**Benoît Jean-Leroy:** Thank you for covering this important issue. It means a lot to us.