The Minister of Industry, Employment and Economic Promotion of the Principality of Asturias, Enrique Fernández, assured yesterday during the presentation of the Gijón Stock Fair that the regional Executive sees the coming weeks as “key” for the ArcelorMittal decarbonisation agreement in the community , which could lead to the elimination of 113 jobs in the Veriña steelworks and in the rail and wire rod trains. However, the head of Industry did not clarify whether the move towards a more sustainable model will bring about a reduction in staff. In addition, Fernández acknowledged that from the Principality “there is some anxiety and restlessness”, since more than a year ago the company’s decarbonization plans were announced for an amount close to 1,000 million.
The reality today, Fernández assured, is that “a series of procedures have had to be faced that include European instances and for which the transition from plans to actions has been slowed down.” The next ones seem fundamental, the Minister insisted, to have “finally” an announcement by which Arcelor seals its commitment to Asturias for the next few years: “It would mean the settlement of the company with a much cleaner, more sustainable and less polluting”.
Regarding the negotiation of the Employment Regulation File (ERE) in Duro Felguera, Enrique Fernández recalled that from the Principality his disagreement with the measure was transferred to the company from the outset. “We cannot agree with a regulation of employment and dismissals. The spirit with which the company was rescued was precisely to avoid that,” said the head of Industry, urging that “what has to be today is a dialogue, a negotiation and an agreement between the parties”.
“We want it to be a fluid and serene negotiation, understanding the seriousness of what is being discussed”, added the Director, who added that “we must find a solution that is as traumatic as possible to guarantee the viability of the company”.