The steelworker evokes the “Difficult economic context” in industry and automobile. After Michelin, ArcelorMittal is considering closing two small plants in France, in Reims and Denain, which could lead to the loss of 130 jobs.
“On November 19, 2024, the management of the ArcelorMittal Service Centers company met with the members of its CSE in order to inform them of a project to reorganize the company and adapt its production capacities. This project includes the possible closure of the ArcelorMittal production centers in Reims and the Denain service centers »ArcelorMittal France announced in a brief press release on Tuesday evening.
The company ArcelorMittal Service Centers, a subsidiary specialized in the wholesale trade of metals and minerals to companies, “is facing a sharp drop in the activity of its industrial and automotive clients that has accelerated in recent months”explains the steel manufacturer.
The announcement could lead to the loss of about 130 jobs, a hundred in Reims and thirty in Denain, the central union delegate of the CGT, David Blaise, and the coordinator of the CFE informed Agence France-Presse (AFP). -CGC, Xavier Le.
Management claims to have ” explain “ to workers’ representatives “limitations that lead you to present this project” AND “invites the social partners to a future meeting at the end of November as part of the information consultation process”. “Negotiations will be carried out with union organizations on social measures to limit the impact on employment”the steel company specifies.
Planned actions
For David Blaise, “as capitalists always do”this decision is justified “due to competitiveness, too high fixed costs and the poor economic situation, especially in the automobile industry”. “We have a drop in the order book, but (…) There were other solutions, diversifying into other activities.” for example, he adds.
“We knew what was going to happen in the automobile industry but nothing was anticipated”criticizes the workers’ representative. Just before the end of the year holidays, “It is difficult for employees”. While the Denain site immediately goes on strike, actions are planned “everywhere” ArcelorMittal Monday and Tuesday, the union leader added.
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ArcelorMittal, with its blast furnaces in Dunkirk and Fos-sur-Mer, supplies steel, in particular, to automobile factories and the construction and public works sector. In September, ArcelorMittal’s CGT led a day of action to “Defend the French steel industry” and specifically in the French bases of the second largest steel company in the world, where many employees are still tormented by the painful closure of the Florange blast furnaces in 2012.
Michelin, also citing the decline in automobile sales volume, announced on November 5 the closure of its Vannes and Cholet factories in 2026 (1,254 jobs). Underlining the need for employment in certain growing industrial sectors, the delegate minister in charge of Industry, Marc Ferracci, admitted on Saturday that there will be other announcements of closures of industrial facilities in France after those announced by Michelin.
The automotive industry in Europe is particularly affected by the slowdown, with 32,000 job cuts announced in the first half of the year among European automotive equipment suppliers.
