Table of Contents
Around a hundred employees were mobilized at midday on Monday in front of the Reims site, upstream of the CSE, but that was not enough. ArcelorMittal has confirmed the closure of its service centers in Reims and Denain, which employ a total of 136 people, the unions announced following a social and economic committee (CSE) in Reims.
112 people are employed on the Reims site (Marne) and 24 on the Denain site (North), according to the unions, or almost a quarter of the total ArcelorMittal Service Centers workforce in France. “The cessation of production is planned for June,” added the inter-union in a press release. “For certain support functions, departures are planned from April,” she adds.
Nineteen reclassifications proposed
According to this source, 19 reclassifications will be proposed in other ArcelorMittal Service Centers sites. “Eight positions currently occupied by temporary staff will also be offered” within a site in Haute-Saône and “20 offers have been listed” for reclassifications within other entities of the group, continues the press release.
ArcelorMittal indicated last week that the Reims and Denain centers were suffering from a “sharp drop in activity” among its customers in industry and automobiles, “which has accelerated in recent months”.
Concern grows in Dunkirk
The inter-union calls on employees of the eight French sites of ArcelorMittal Service Centers to mobilize on Tuesday. In Denain, they must be joined by around fifty members of the CGT of ArcelorMittal Dunkirk, where concern is growing after announcements made in recent days by the group and the government.
ArcelorMittal asked the European Union on Monday to protect the competitiveness of European steel, putting in the balance its decarbonization projects on the continent, which involve several billion euros of investments. This notably includes Dunkirk, where ArcelorMittal has decided “to postpone its investment in the decarbonization of the site”, according to the Minister Delegate in charge of Industry, Marc Ferracci.
ArcelorMittal employs “3,200 direct permanent workers in Dunkirk, between 8,000 and 9,000 including indirect jobs”, according to Gaëtan Lecocq, general secretary of the CGT at ArcelorMittal Dunkerque. Benoît Jean-Leroy, CFDT delegate of ArcelorMittal Reims, denounces ArcelorMittal’s desire to “keep out of Europe in favor of the United States, India and Brazil”.
What specific steps are Benoît Jean-Leroy and the CFDT delegate at Reims pushing for from ArcelorMittal’s leadership to address the concerns of affected employees and mitigate the negative impacts of the closure?
## World Today News Exclusive Interview: ArcelorMittal Closures Spark Concerns
**Welcome to World Today News. Today we’re discussing the recent announcement of ArcelorMittal’s closure of service centers in Reims and Denain, impacting 136 employees. We are joined by two esteemed guests:**
* **Benoît Jean-Leroy**, CFDT delegate of ArcelorMittal Reims
* **Gaëtan Lecocq**, General Secretary of the CGT at ArcelorMittal Dunkerque
**Thank you both for joining us.**
**Section 1: The Impact of the Closures**
* **Benoît, the news of the Reims center closing has undoubtedly been a shock to your colleagues. Can you share your initial reactions and the sentiments within the workforce?**
* **Gaëtan, while you represent the Dunkirk site, you mentioned growing concerns there. How do you view these closures in rime جاء context of the broader situation at ArcelorMittal?**
* **The article mentions 19 proposed reclassifications. What are your thoughts on the adequacy of this solution for those losing their jobs? What are the other options being explored for impacted employees?**
**Section 2: The Reasons Behind the Closures**
* **ArcelorMittal cites a “sharp drop in activity” and accelerating decline. Benoît, what factors do you believe have contributed to this decline in demand for the services offered by these centers?**
* **Gaëtan, ArcelorMittal has also been publicly seeking EU protection for European steel competitiveness. In your view, how does this relate to the closures in France? Is there a broader strategy at play?**
* **The article mentions Dunkirk’s decarbonization project being postponed. What are the potential repercussions of this delay, and how does it impact the morale and confidence of the workforce in Dunkirk?**
**Section 3: Looking Forward: The Future of ArcelorMittal in France**
* **Benoît, what message would you like to send to ArcelorMittal’s leadership regarding these closures and their broader strategy in France? What steps would you like to see them take to address the concerns raised by unions and employees?**
* **Gaëtan, given the ongoing uncertainty and potential for further restructuring, what steps are unions taking to ensure the interests of ArcelorMittal workers are protected in the long term? Are there any calls for intervention from the French government?**
* **Both guests, what is your overall assessment of the future of ArcelorMittal in France? What are the key challenges and opportunities facing the company, and how can a balance be struck between economic realities and the well-being of its employees?**
**Thank you, Benoît and Gaëtan, for your insightful perspectives. This has been a crucial discussion on a pressing issue affecting the lives of many workers. We hope these conversations will continue and lead to constructive solutions for all parties involved.**
**We’ll be back after the break with more news and analysis on World Today News.**
