New strike at French ArcelorMittal plant
Workers at a steel plant in eastern France run by the world's biggest steelmaker ArcelorMittal went on strike late yesterday ahead of a meeting to approve a plan for 575 job cuts. the CGT union said.
By Agencies |
METZ (FRANCE): Workers at a steel plant in eastern France run by the world's biggest steelmaker ArcelorMittal went on strike late yesterday ahead of a meeting to approve a plan for 575 job cuts. the CGT union said.
"Production was halted at around 10 pm in all of the plant's departments," said Jacky Mascelli of the CGT union today.
Management at the Gandrange plant could not be immediately reached for comment.
ArcelorMittal's works committee was expected to approve today a plan that will lead to 575 job cuts, more than half of the workers employed at the plant.
Spokesmen for the CFDT and CFE-CGC unions said they were not taking part in the strike movement.
Some 200 workers last week ended a weeklong protest during which they blocked access to the plant to press demands for a better relocation package.
The Gandrange plant of ArcelorMittal is facing a restructuring plan that would see the elimination of more than half the jobs from a workforce of 1,108 between now and 2009.
Management has offered to relocate workers, in particular at its plant in nearby Luxembourg.
The fate of the plant has turned political in France after President Nicolas Sarkozy met with ArcelorMittal CEO Lakshmi Mittal in January to win assurances that the workers will be treated fairly.
Socialist Segolene Royal visited the plant earlier this week and accused Sarkozy of failing to deliver on that promise.
"Production was halted at around 10 pm in all of the plant's departments," said Jacky Mascelli of the CGT union today.
Management at the Gandrange plant could not be immediately reached for comment.
ArcelorMittal's works committee was expected to approve today a plan that will lead to 575 job cuts, more than half of the workers employed at the plant.
Spokesmen for the CFDT and CFE-CGC unions said they were not taking part in the strike movement.
Some 200 workers last week ended a weeklong protest during which they blocked access to the plant to press demands for a better relocation package.
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The Gandrange plant of ArcelorMittal is facing a restructuring plan that would see the elimination of more than half the jobs from a workforce of 1,108 between now and 2009.
Management has offered to relocate workers, in particular at its plant in nearby Luxembourg.
The fate of the plant has turned political in France after President Nicolas Sarkozy met with ArcelorMittal CEO Lakshmi Mittal in January to win assurances that the workers will be treated fairly.
Socialist Segolene Royal visited the plant earlier this week and accused Sarkozy of failing to deliver on that promise.
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