“the mobilization has borne fruit”

“After three days of mobilization, it’s good news“. Nicolas Lethellier is the secretary of the CSE on the emblematic site of Saint-Saulve in the North.”If this announcement is officially confirmed“he specifies.

This morning of Friday, November 19, 2021, the CGT representative of Ascoval has just learned the news in the press. As he gladly recalls: “who is silent consents“. For him no doubt,”it was the mobilization of employees and elected officials that made noise and this went back to Bercy. The negotiation was able to succeed thanks to that!“

Information communicated last night by Bruno Le Maire after intense negotiations with the shareholder Saarstahl.

This “good news“is not really a surprise for Nicolas Lethellier. He did not imagine for a second that the German group Saarstahl, owner of the northern plant, could for a long time justify the transfer of part of the activity to Germany where the steel would have been manufactured in coal-fired ovens, much more polluting than those of Saint-Saulve, which are themselves. electric.

The announcement of the withdrawal of this partial relocation project comes as the Head of State, who is familiar with the matter, is visiting this Friday in the North and the Aisne to talk about territorial development. Xavier Bertrand LR presidential candidate and president of the Hauts-de-France region had announced to challenge Emmanuel Macron on this subject, on the theme of “When we want we can !“, the exchange did take place in Guise.

The interpellation is frank and lasts around five minutes. Under the masks, the words are firm. “The problem is the electricity tariff“affirms Xavier Bertrand to the head of state.”You may know better than everyone else“replies Emmanuel Macron who recalls having always fought for this factory. The two men finally find themselves on the need to have”guarantees“.

This November 17, the CFDT and the CGT indeed announced after a meeting that the group’s management had shared its intention to temporarily relocate 40% of its production to Germany. In question: the rise in the price of electricity which supplies the site at the cutting edge in environmental matters. Saarstahl had not confirmed, claiming to have taken “no decision“, but recognized that he was studying”temporary optionss “for”limit negative effects“of this increase, when its blast furnaces in Germany therefore turn to coal, much cheaper.

“Energy prices have exploded [et le groupe étudie] all the temporary options (…) to limit the negative effects resulting from this phase“group spokesperson Ute Engel told AFP.

While the State had still released 20 million at the beginning of the year to pay salaries and help the recovery of Ascoval, the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire had said Thursday morning that there was no question that the steelmaker relocates his activity “definitively” in Germany.

A definitive relocation was the fear of the unions, as has happened in the past. “We are relieved“! Nacim Bardi is CGT delegate in Saint-Saulve. On the site where he works this morning, smiles are on all faces even if he specifies:” we must always remain vigilant “.

He regrets that it is necessary “always go to the front“so that the evidence is taken into account by management.”Politicians could not ignore the situation, the rising cost of energy could not justify such a decision“.

The unions are now awaiting the official reaction of their shareholder, a meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 24.