ArcelorMittal under scrutiny: CGT raises concerns, stating "The company's profits are bolstered by French government funds," following a discussion with Marc Ferracci.

ArcelorMittal under scrutiny: CGT raises concerns, stating "The company's profits are bolstered by French government funds," following a discussion with Marc Ferracci.

Steel Crisis: "We Won't Let ArcelorMittal Destroy French Steel Industry", Union Chief Threatens

In a heated statement, the national coordinator of the CFDT within ArcelorMittal has expressed his discontent with the company's plans: "They're determined to shift their production out of Europe, specifically to India and Brazil." This claim follows ArcelorMittal's announcement in April about eliminating over 600 jobs in France, a decision that's stirring up considerable opposition.

Gaëtan Lecocq seems hopeful about the potential awakening of the public authorities, but remains wary: "I sense that, after all, the State services are starting to wake up. But what we want isn't just a PSE (plan to save jobs), what we want is those 600 employees to stay."

On Tuesday at 12:30 PM, a general assembly of ArcelorMittal, the world's second-largest steel company, will take place in Luxembourg. This event is generating keen interest among French unions and stakeholders.

Call for Action on May 13

Julien Gokel, a socialist deputy from the North, proposes placing the Dunkirk site under guardianship. Meanwhile, the CGT supports partial or total nationalization. "That's not an option for the government", laments Gaëtan Lecocq, before adding: "The French steel industry, it's like electricity, if we don't have electricity, we can't run our factories. If we don't have steel, it's the same. It's a matter of national sovereignty."

Lecocq emphasizes the current context of international tensions: "If you want to go to war, what are we going to do? We're going to make tanks out of cardboard and cannons out of plastic?"

He also criticizes the lack of commitments from the executive: "There's nothing concrete", he bemoans, referring to the conditional public aid given to maintain employment: "For years, ArcelorMittal has received hundreds of millions of euros in subsidies and public aid without any conditions. It's a state scandal because today, if we do nothing, we're going to end up with mass layoffs. We're not going to tolerate it", he warns.

The CGT has called for a mobilization on May 13 in front of the group's site in Saint-Denis. Additionally, Lecocq urges the Minister of Industry to visit the site: "He promised to come in a few months. It's not a matter of a few months, but a matter of weeks. ArcelorMittal is stepping up its pace. If we do nothing, it's going to trip us up. The next time, it's going to finish off the French steel industry."

Fight for French Steel: Key Strategies

The steel industry crisis, as exemplified by ArcelorMittal's job cuts, highlights the struggles faced by the European steel sector. Here are some strategies being proposed to safeguard jobs in the French steel industry:

1. Trade Union Demands: Trade unions like IndustriAll Europe are advocating for a European steel action plan with strict social conditionalities. They call for transparency, a halt to job cuts, and better public support mechanisms that include job protections and long-term industry strategies[2].
2. Government and EU Support: The issue is crucial for policymakers to ensure that public support for companies like ArcelorMittal is contingent on maintaining industrial capacity and jobs[2].
3. Nationalization or Industrial Site Guardianship: While the French government has not yet announced specific policies, the crisis underscores the need for robust industrial policies to protect strategic sectors like steel[3].

Government Response

As of now, the French government has not announced any plans for nationalization or industrial site guardianship in response to ArcelorMittal's job cuts. However, the steel industry crisis is prompting demands for stronger policy measures to shield key industries:

• EU Context: The European steel industry is grappling with declining demand and rising imports, which necessitates broader EU policies to support the sector[1][3].
• Public Support Conditionalities: There's pressure from trade unions and policymakers to make sure public support for firms like ArcelorMittal comes with conditions that safeguard jobs and maintain industrial capacity[2].

For the moment, the French government's approach focuses on addressing broader economic challenges rather than pursuing immediate nationalization or industrial site guardianship measures.

1. The union chief's discontent with ArcelorMittal's plans is causing concerns in the social, political, and general-news spheres, as he criticizes the company's intentions to shift production to India and Brazil, and emphasizes the significance of retaining jobs in the French steel industry, which he considers essential for national sovereignty.
2. In response to the steel crisis, trade unions like IndustriAll Europe are advocating for a European steel action plan with strict social conditionalities, including transparency, a halt to job cuts, and better public support mechanisms that include job protections and long-term industry strategies, indicating the finance and business sectors' role in determining the future of the steel industry.
3. The CGT has called for a mobilization on May 13 in front of the ArcelorMittal site in Saint-Denis, and urges the Minister of Industry to visit the site promptly, emphasizing that the government's response to the steel industry crisis should include robust policies to protect strategic sectors like steel, revealing the intersection of politics and the steel industry during times of crisis.

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