Work Resumed At Romanian Steel Pipe Mkr ArcelorMittal

The leader of the Solidaritatea Union, Gheorghe Tiber, initiator of the strike, told MEDIAFAX that all workers resumed production at regular capacity after the court decision.

Union leaders are to meet with management one hour before the Galati Court is expected to rule on the legitimacy of the strike.

At 14.00 local time, the workers have planned a protest rally, which should only be attended by off-duty workers.

The Court of Appeal in Galati, eastern Romania, approved the legal action initiated by the management of steel pipe maker ArcelorMittal for the suspension of the general strike, as the halting of works could lead to an explosion in the plant's coal carbonization unit.

The Court of Appeal ruled to suspend the strike for 30 days, when company representatives pointed out that the strike might trigger an explosion in the coal carbonization unit.

The decision comes after unionists and management failed to agree in negotiations organized by Galati prefect Mihai Capra, in a mediation action that started around 16.00 and lasted about two hours.

Management asked the protesters to raise the output level to at least 40% from the current 30%, because there is the risk of explosion, Capra said in a press conference after negotiations.

The protesters said they would analyze this technical matter and they are willing to raise the output level, but they need time to consult with specialist colleagues.

The Galati Court and the Galati Court of Appeal ruled on two complaints filed by ArcelorMittal management, regarding the general strike called the day before by the Solidaritatea union.

The complaint filed with the Galati Court challenges the legal basis for the strike, while management asks the Galati Court of Appeal to suspend the strike.

A few thousand employees with steel pipe maker ArcelorMittal Galati went on general strike Monday morning, protesting against the salary raise proposed by the company’s management.

Gheorghe Tiber, head of the Romanian Solidaritatea Union, said they collected 3,800 signatures to start the strike, stressing, however, there could be fewer employees actually backing the strike, considering the pressures made by the management.

Marcel Mititelu, leader of the Solidaritatea Union with steel plant Siderurgica Hunedoara, western Romania, also joined the protests and even put himself in chains in a desperate attempt to prove he is “a slave for ArcelorMittal.”

The Solidaritatea unionists urged the management to double employees’ wages, saying they will not accept a wage raise lower than RON280, while the management’s latest offer targets a 9.5% raise, but no less than RON100.

The Union Friday notified ArcelorMittal Galati management that it would call general strike Monday morning, starting 06.30 local time.

The notification Tiber sent Friday afternoon to the management said the Union decided to call strike throughout the entire ArcelorMittal Galati unit, indefinitely, starting with Monday, April 14, 2008, 06.30 local time, if the claims forwarded in the latest rounds of negotiations are not satisfied.

Two of the four union groups present at negotiations have already agreed with the latest proposition issued by management. The Union Federation of Steel Workers (FSS) Metarom and the Territorial Association of Free Unions (UTSL), which represent 8500, respectively 700 employees, signed Wednesday an additional act to the Collective Labor Contract.

The most important provisions in the accepted offer refer to a wage raise of 9.5%, but no less than RON100, the removal of categories I and II, the lowest categories for skilled workers, and the payment of former category I and II employees on a category III level, which means a salary leap from RON610, the gross sum received at category I, to RON832 currently paid to category III. In addition, the minimal employment wage for people with college degrees will be RON1,256, while another 1,400 employees will go to an upper class, which adds an additional 5% to their wages.

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