Steel Gerlafingen: Trade unions call for political intervention
Published: Wednesday, Mar 27th 2024, 16:20
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Following Stahl Gerlafingen's decision to close a production line, the trade unions are calling for political intervention. Syna, Unia and the Kaufmännischer Verband have called for a Swiss industrial policy to be drawn up.
The aim is to show ways in which the socio-ecological restructuring of the Swiss industrial sectors can be shaped, as the trade unions wrote in a statement on Wednesday. Stahl Gerlafingen is one of two remaining steelworks in Switzerland that produces recycled steel.
This will satisfy a strategic need of the local economy. Domestic, relatively low-CO2 steel production is key to supplying Swiss companies, the trade unions wrote: "This is why the decisions surrounding this company are also of overriding industrial policy importance."
The aim of Syna, Unia and the Kaufmännischer Verband in the upcoming consultation process is to preserve jobs in Gerlafingen. "Based on the information available, it is only partially clear why production capacities are to be reduced."
The unions are demanding that the management extend the consultation period in order to allow sufficient time to work out a viable solution. In addition, Stahl Gerlafingen and the Italian parent company Beltrame Group must provide all the necessary information.
Stahl Gerlafingen had previously announced the closure of the rolling mill for profiles. This threatens to result in 95 job losses.
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