ArcelorMittal and unions have 24 hours to reach agreement

(CS/BB) Luxembourg labour unions could move forward with strike action should they be unable to finalise a collective working agreement with steel company ArcelorMittal within the next 24 hours.

Should no agreement be reached at the national conciliation office, where the case was transferred in August after months of fruitless discussions, this leaves the way open for a workers' strike.

The bone of contention is nine days of annual leave, which ArcelorMittal wants to abolish. While unions agreed to end-of-year bonus concessions, they said that days off and wages should remain untouched.

ArcelorMittal meanwhile argues that 28 instead of 37 days of annual leave would increase productivity. “The world has changed and we need to reorganise,” head of HR Valérie Massin recently said to the “Luxemburger Wort”.

Both the OGBL and LCGB are now consulting their members how to proceed. While they are free to present further suggestions to the steel company, the conciliation office deadline this week could lead to a strike in the steel sector.

At a demonstration earlier in November in Esch/Alzette unions had warned that they are prepared to take action.