New clash between the Celsa unions with the owners and with the new management of Celsa headed by Rafael Villaseca and Jordi Cazorla. CC.OO. and UGT have assured that the company has started with the “spoliation programmed by investment funds” by exploring the sale of subsidiaries abroad.
Company sources assured this week that “Celsa has hired Citi to carry out an assessment of the Group’s foreign subsidiaries.” The same sources added that “this decision responds to the company’s desire to deepen the knowledge and alternatives offered by its international divisions” although they specified that “in no case has any specific decision been made.” The Information assured that the assignment was to analyze the sale of the three subsidiaries in Norway, Poland and the United Kingdom.
According to the unions, “this strategy clearly goes against the industrial and economic interests of the group, since these plants represent 50% of the Celsa Group’s Ebitda and represent a clear setback in Celsa’s ability to generate profitability and sustainability.”
CC.OO. and UGT have assured that “we request that the Ministry and the Government clearly prohibit planned disinvestments and contemplate the rapid entry of the Spanish steel industrial partner, which participates in the design of the group’s industrial plan.”
The representatives have also demanded “meetings with the funds that own the group to receive clear information, without intermediaries, of the industrial and economic intentions.” Until now the interlocutors have been the new CEO.
This week the Minister of Industry, Jordi Hereu, said they are working for the company to “incorporate an industrial partner and, therefore, be able to guarantee what is a strategic activity.”
The first clash between the unions and the new management was the call for an indefinite general strike that was canceled due to non-compliance with the agreement.