EMF signs agreement with ArcelorMittal
The European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF) and ArcelorMittal European management signed an important agreement yesterday 2nd November 2009.
It provides guarantees for the 115,000 workers employed by ArcelorMittal in Europe at a time when the steelmaker has been hard hit by the crisis and a large number of industrial sites have been mothballed.
The European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF) and ArcelorMittal European management signed an important agreement yesterday 2nd November 2009. It provides guarantees for the 115,000 workers employed by ArcelorMittal in Europe at a time when the steelmaker has been hard hit by the crisis and a large number of industrial sites have been mothballed.
For Bart Samyn, EMF Deputy General Secretary, “This agreement is a step in the right direction in the current period of uncertainty. It gives guarantees for workers’ employability and the long-term industrial development of ArcelorMittal in Europe. The EMF trusts that the agreement will be swiftly implemented in all the European ArcelorMittal sites. The EMF will be vigilant about ensuring the full application of the agreement.”
Whereas workers have been highly concerned about the risk of permanent closure of some of the industrial sites and blast furnaces, the agreement confirms that all the plants will be restarted and that no compulsory redundancies will take place.
Furthermore this agreement aims at promoting a skill development and training policy within the group in the longer run. It will also lead to improved social dialogue at national level or the setting up of such dialogue where it does not yet exist.
See below for Joint EMF-ArcelorMittal press release and texts of the agreement in various languages.
