Employees at ArcelorMittal’s French service centers have gone on strike in response to the elimination of 135 positions and potential facility closures, including two in Reims and Denain. A coalition of unions organized protests, highlighting concerns over future job losses and inadequate redeployment options for affected workers. The company’s management attributed the cuts to a significant drop in market demand and competition from low-cost imports, while also postponing critical decarbonization projects.
ArcelorMittal Employees Strike Over Job Cuts
In a bold move to protect their livelihoods, employees at ArcelorMittal’s French service centers have initiated a strike. This action comes in response to the recent announcement confirming the elimination of 135 positions, signaling potential closures that could affect more workers in the future.
The strike, organized by a coalition of unions including CGT, CFDT, FO, and CFE/CGC, began Monday at various sites. It follows the unsettling news about the impending closure of two facilities located in Reims (Marne) and Denain (Nord), resulting in significant job losses—113 in Reims, 21 in Denain, and one in Ottmarsheim, Haut-Rhin.
Management confirmed these plans on Monday, while also announcing the creation of 19 new jobs at different locations.
Community Support and Concerns for the Future
On Tuesday at noon, around 150 demonstrators gathered at the Denain site, where pallet fires were lit as a symbol of their protest. Employees from nearby industrial sites, including ArcelorMittal Dunkirk, joined in solidarity alongside local officials.
Gaëtan Lecocq, the general secretary of CGT ArcelorMittal Dunkirk—which employs over 3,000 workers—expressed deep concern, stating that this scenario appears to be just “the beginning” of a series of potential closures impacting more sites across the country.
Patrick Descamps, a long-time employee at the Denain service center, shared his shock and disbelief regarding the closure announcement, highlighting that the factory had been performing well. He reminisced about the contributions of the Denain facility, noting that the Olympic rings displayed on the Eiffel Tower originated from their production.
Workers and union representatives voiced their dissatisfaction with ArcelorMittal’s lack of redeployment options for those affected by the layoffs. They also criticized the company’s rejection of takeover offers for the Denain site.
Management attributed the job cuts to a staggering 30% decline in market demand since 2019, alongside challenges posed by low-cost imports from outside Europe, which have disrupted competitive conditions.
In addition to the impacted locations in Reims, Denain, and Ottmarsheim, ArcelorMittal operates several other service centers across France, including those in Bruyères-sur-Oise, Gray, Pontcharra, Saint-Nazaire, and Woippy, employing approximately 453 workers in total at these sites.
The unions are particularly concerned about a potential chain reaction of closures across the group, which employs around 15,400 individuals in France. The situation is further compounded by ArcelorMittal’s decision to place its significant decarbonization projects for blast furnaces on hold, a move that is critical for the company’s sustainability in Europe. The group is urging Brussels to take measures to maintain the competitiveness of European steel against rising Chinese competition.
Adding to the industry’s woes, Thyssenkrupp, a major player in the steel sector, announced plans to cut 11,000 jobs by 2030, reflecting the ongoing challenges faced by European steelmakers.