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Today workers from ArcelorMittal will be holding a European action day calling for the company to act responsibly in the context of the current crisis. This will include a symbolic demonstration in Brussels.
Whilst slashing thousands of jobs in Europe and worldwide, ArcelorMittal will announce its latest multi-billion euro dividend for shareholders, which is predicted to top the CAC-40, on 11th February 2009.
In November 2008, after agreeing an earlier 2.3 billion euro package for shareholders, ArcelorMittal announced 9,000 job losses worldwide (6,000 in Europe). The main focus for the job-cuts is on non-production employees, but cuts in support functions will undeniably have negative repercussions for the general functioning of the group. Moreover, the social implications of these job losses, in conjunction with the current cuts in production, will have a significant impact on overall employment in the group and its subcontractors.
The proportions of the overall restructuring plan are filtering out of central management in a fragmented manner through workplace announcements and increasingly unilateral measures. The EMF and its affiliates in ArcelorMittal fully reject this strategy of divide and rule, and reaffirm their commitment to a Europe-wide unified and coordinated response to central management.
For the EMF, ArcelorMittal should not be further fuelling insecurity and promoting lower purchasing power in the context of falling consumer confidence, whilst trade unions and politicians attempt to find solutions to avoid long-term economic depression.
The EMF calls on ArcelorMittal management to enter into dialogue with unions and shop stewards with a view to guaranteeing the following:
•to retain the current workforce in order to be prepared for the recovery in demand;
•to commit to negotiated solutions and no compulsory redundancies;
•to compensate for loss of salary in case of temporary lay-offs;
•to compensate workers fairly for productivity gains achieved by the group;
•to maintain the skills, knowledge and human capital of the group, including replacing retiring workers with new staff and maintaining apprenticeships;to use periods of lower production to invest in workers’ education and training to ensure long-term employment security;
•to use periods of lower production to invest in renovation and upgrading of machinery and production facilities, to maintain the viability of sites, in cooperation with subcontracting companies; and
•to develop clear industrial plans for the de-mothballing of industrial sites and blast furnaces.
The Brussels demonstration begins at 11H30 at the Gare du Midi, ending with speeches from 12H30 – 13H00 at Place Bolivar (Boulevard Albert II) and will be followed by a press conference at the EMF at 13H15 (10th Floor, ITUH).
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Press 4/2009
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The EMF is the representative body defending the interests of workers in the European metal industry. The EMF has a mandate for the external representation and coordination of the metalworkers' unions and a mandate to engage in bargaining at European level.
For further information please contact:
Editor, Peter Scherrer, EMF General Secretary
Judith Kirton-Darling, Industrial Policy Advisor +32.2.227 1052
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