Struggle of Workers Over Steelworks: A Thousand Employees Fight Against Green Restructuring
Sitting on the Brink: Bremen Steelworks and the Looming Job Crisis
The Bremen steelworks is at a standstill, and it's not just a pause—it's a ticking time bomb for thousands of workers. With jobs on the line, the workforce refuses to remain idle.
Following the temporary halt on "green steel" in Bremen, over a thousand steelworks employees staged a demonstration. Works council chairman Murat Develioglu voiced their frustration at a union meeting on ArcelorMittal's premises: "This decision has instilled uncertainty, concern, and anger among us," he asserted. "We're here today to make it clear that we won't silently accept every corporate decision."
Fuming Over the Decision
Bremen's Mayor, Andreas Bovenschulte, echoed the workers' discontent. "I'm deeply disappointed and furious," the SPD politician told the workforce. The city council vows to fight for the plant's future. "We need a commitment—not just from Bremen's politics or the Bremen site, but from German politics and the steel industry," Bovenschulte stressed.
Behind the Curtains
ArcelorMittal, a leading steel manufacturer, has paused its direct-reduced iron (DRI) and electric arc furnace (EAF) decarbonisation projects at Bremen and Eisenhuttenstadt due to an unfriendly policy and market environment in Germany and the EU. Initially planning to supply DRI from Bremen to Eisenhuttenstadt, the company couldn't secure investment decisions due to astronomical energy costs, regulatory confusion, and adverse market conditions.
The decision to halt these projects has severe repercussions for jobs and the plant's future. For instance, ArcelorMittall is currently working on a blast furnace repair at Eisenhuttenstadt, but they haven't proceeded with modernization and decarbonization investments that could ensure long-term operations and employment.
The company has urged the EU to speed up carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) enforcement, bolster trade protections against unfair competition, and implement the Metals Action Plan to revitalize the competitiveness of low-emission steel production.
Time to Seize Control
The situation underscores the urgency for stronger German and EU political support for the steel sector. Failure to act decisively to address high energy costs, provide investment incentives, and protect the industry from unjust foreign competition could lead to ongoing delays or cancellations of key projects vital for modernization and climate objectives, further causing job losses and industrial decay.
In short, the stalled renovation and decarbonization projects at the Bremen steelworks signal an urgent call for active and committed political intervention in Germany. Such action is crucial to safeguard steel industry jobs, promote sustainable transformation, and maintain competitiveness in a challenging global market.
Finance and energy sectors are at the forefront of the discussion, as the halt in "green steel" manufacturing at Bremen steelworks has raised concerns about the industry's competitiveness and the associated job losses. ArcelorMittal, a leading player in the industry, has called for the EU to accelerate the enforcement of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), strengthen trade protections, and implement the Metals Action Plan to revitalize low-emission steel production, all aimed at reducing energy costs and securing investments. The city of Bremen, on the other hand, is advocating for political support from both Germany and the EU to address these issues and prevent further delays or cancellations of crucial projects for modernization and climate goals.
