Arcelor-Mittal workers in Algeria threaten strike

ALGIERS: Workers at a steel plant in Algeria run by global giant Arcelor-Mittal on Wednesday threatened to launch an indefinite strike from next week if the group did not scrap plans to axe 1,200 workers.

"The union has not severed dialogue," a statement said but warned of an "indefinite strike from August 22" at the plant in the eastern town of Al-Hadjar if its demands were not met.

The workers want a revised retirement plan, subsidised medical treatment and timebound employment contracts. They are also opposed to the group's plans to lay off 1,200 of the 8,000 workers employed in Algeria.

The Arcelor-Mittal management says it is a voluntary retirement package in which each worker would receive a bonus of 6,000 euros (USD 8,087). Arcelor-Mittal was created a year ago in the merger of European steel group Arcelor and Mittal Steel.

Mittal Steel, run by Indian-born global magnate Lakshmi Mittal, acquired 70 per cent stake in the Al-Hadjar complex, previously run by the Algerian government in October 2001.