“It’s astounding because it’s a brutal solution. We are very worried because we have people who have spent their lives in the workshops. The age pyramid reflects a high average age. Finding a job at 50 will be a challenge for those who will have to leave Arcelor,” warns Agnès Laurent, union representative (FO). The ax fell on Tuesday November 19. In a press release, the management of ArcelorMittal announced a reorganization resulting in the elimination of around a hundred positions in Reims (Marne) and around thirty in Denain (North).
“This project includes the possible shutdown of the SSC production sites in Reims and Denain. In a difficult economic context, the ArcelorMittal Service Center company is facing a sharp drop in activity among its Industry and Automotive customers,” explains management in its press release. Insufficient justifications in the eyes of the unions which denounce its factory establishments in the United States, Brazil and India. They are worried about a disengagement of the group in Europe. According to them, Reims and Denain could be the first in a long series.
“The closure is announced to us to keep society in good health. The automobile market has been down 30% since 2019. But a recovery in activity is expected for 2026. Rather than reducing the workforce on certain sites, management prefers to close two sites. In six months, we will perhaps talk about the possible closure of other sites,” worries Benoît Jean-Leroy, union representative (CFDT) at the ArcelorMittal Service Centers site in Reims.
If, yesterday, Wednesday November 20, the company was at a standstill, the Intersyndicale did not call a strike today, or even tomorrow. The big day of mobilization is planned for next Monday. “We are calling for much more marked action,” explains Benoît Jean-Leroy. We invite all employees to strike during the CSE which will be held Monday, November 25 in the afternoon. »
In the changing rooms of this factory specializing in the transformation of steel coils, despondency has given way to anger and incomprehension. Some say they are ready to roll up their sleeves to defend, once again, their jobs, like Fabrice, 52, who arrived in production in the Rémoise factory in 1999. “We don't see how management could make it work behind, we still have a slim hope that the factory will not close… I am going to mobilize with my colleagues even if we are all in low spirits. This is my third social plan! When I see all these young people crying in the locker rooms, they bought houses and will find themselves with their loans on their backs, it's very hard. We always adapted to new tools, we were there to work overtime… We fought to save our factory and then everything collapsed. »
Negotiations on the future of the hundred employees will begin on Monday afternoon during a CSE which will be held in Reims and not in Metz, as initially planned.
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