ArcelorMittal is pressing ahead with plans to reopen blast furnace A, damaged on March 23, as the company works to unload and remove the solidified pig iron. The operation to clear the furnace and set the stage for restart is scheduled for the coming month, with mid to late June identified as the window for completion of the removal process. The company remains hopeful that the furnace can resume production as initially forecast, despite the logistical challenges of emptying the vessel and preparing it for a safe restart.
The June reopening timeline was disclosed by the multinational during its quarterly results presentation, and management confirms the calendar remains intact while addressing the hurdles involved in emptying the furnace. Stakeholders in Asturias will be watching closely as preparations continue for the next phase of operations, including the careful handling of the furnace before it can be brought back online, and the broader implications for the plant’s output schedule.
On June 1, formal discussions are planned between the company and the unions representing workers at the Asturias facilities. The conversations will cover the potential retirement pathway for staff born up to 1962 and the broader healthy company plan. The eighth framework agreement, which outlines the company’s labor strategy across all Spanish factories, is set to be applicable through 2025. In parallel, discussions will begin regarding the decarbonisation investment plan and staff reductions in Asturias. The proposed investment totals 1,000 million euros, with public support of 450 million. If these plans proceed, the project landscape could lead to significant workforce changes, including the elimination of roughly 1,000 jobs, a sizable portion of the current Asturias staff as the business pivots toward modernization and greener operations.
The Framework Agreement was signed recently by the main union confederations UGT, CC OO, and USO, aligning with the company’s latest proposals. Some unions, notably Basque groups ELA and LAB, did not ratify the deal. Following the signing, ArcelorMittal employees are slated to receive retroactive payment corresponding to last year’s 5.7 percent adjustment, applied to the upcoming payroll to reflect inflation from that year. Salary tables for the workforce will also be updated to reflect new terms and conditions of employment across the group.
The agreement contains provisions for a salary increase aligned with the actual consumer price index for each of the four years of its validity, covering 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. Additionally, it contemplates an annual unconsolidated variable amount of 0.75 percent for 2023, 2024, and 2025, contingent on the achievement of locally defined objectives. These objectives will be established at the local level, ensuring that targets are clear and that performance in Asturias directly influences compensation. The structure aims to balance competitive pay with responsible oversight of plant performance as the company advances its modernization and decarbonisation agenda while maintaining competitiveness in the European steel market. The broader context sees ArcelorMittal pursuing a comprehensive plan to upgrade facilities, reduce emissions, and align labor costs with long term strategic goals, all while safeguarding the communities and jobs most impacted by the structural changes in the industry.