ArcelorMittal is the main engine of industrial employment in Asturias. Their direct jobs account for 9% of the 55,000 jobs in the Asturian manufacturing sector. However, the company’s labor force is waning and it is expected that it will be even more so in the coming years with decarbonization plans.
At the moment, the multinational is applying productivity plans to increase the competitiveness of the Asturian plants both in international markets and in competition between the company’s European plants. These plans include reorganization of work, automation of some tasks, application of flexibility and polyvalence measures, and elimination of jobs.
During the last quarter, ArcelorMittal has agreed with the majority unions in the Asturias factories on productivity plans in six facilities that involve the elimination of 72 jobs. Before these agreements, in October, a pre-agreement had been reached that linked the reactivation of relief contracts in the company – a constant demand of the unions – to the application of productivity plans.
Since November, according to union sources, the productivity plans for the Avilés steel mill (which includes the elimination of 20 jobs), the Gijón steel mill (20 jobs), the Avilés hot strip mill (21 jobs), and the ), the Gijón wire rod train (6 jobs), the sinter (5 jobs) and maintenance on the Avilés tin line (5 jobs). In addition, a new productivity plan for central maintenance and internal transport is being negotiated and the company’s proposal includes the elimination of 51 positions and the creation of three new ones, with which the negative balance would be 48.
“There is an incessant trickle of job destruction in the Asturias factories, which in September had already dropped below 4,900 workers, according to the company,” said Manuel Ángel Pulgar, CSI spokesman at ArcelorMittal, a union that has criticized the plans. of productivity. “This job suppression is also prior to the one prepared with the decarbonization plans,” he added.
The multinational has made it clear that the investment of more than 1,000 million to replace one of the blast furnaces in Gijón with a plant for the direct reduction of iron ore with green hydrogen and a hybrid electric arc furnace must be accompanied by a plan to adjust the volume of staff to the new facilities, which are less labor intensive. The company highlights that the investment will give the Asturian steel industry a future and will attract new activities with employment.
employment figures
4,900 Workers in Asturias
The multinational lowered the bar last September of 4,900 jobs in Asturias.
120 fewer positions in a quarter
The company’s productivity plans involve the abolition of 120 positions.
800 jobs less than the green plan
The modernization of plants to reduce emissions means between 800 and 1,000 fewer jobs.