After 16 days that a group of unionized workers from one of the Mexican units of the global steel giant ArcelorMittal blocked the entrances to a mining area and a blast furnace in the western Mexican state of Michoacán, a federal judge declared that the claim of workers “is contrary to the law”.
“The stoppage of activities that persists today in our workplace is contrary to the law,” ArcelorMittal México reported in a press release.
On May 24, a group of workers from Section 271 of the Mining Union (National Union of Mining, Metallurgical, Steel and Similar Workers of the Mexican Republic) under the assumption of a poor distribution of profits, blocked the entrances to the production centers. Supposedly with red-and-black flags (representative of strike).
Four days after the blockades, they notified ArcelorMittal that there was a strike scheduled for June 4, later changed to noon on June 11, 2024.
In those first 16 days of blockage at the blast furnace, more than 105,000 metric tons (mt) of steel production has been lost, according to a calculation by SteelOrbis.
“In full and absolute respect for freedom of association and the individual and collective rights of our workers, ArcelorMittal requests the immediate return to work and an end to the blockade following a court verdict, the company said.
The steel company also reported that the blockade is compromising the subsistence and future viability of the company.
If the blockage persists, the company reported that it will take legal action, including claiming the compensation and comprehensive reparation measures to which it is entitled.
Reports from people who know about the process, since last May 24, the blast furnace has been loaded with liquid steel, which implies a safety problem and damage to the asset.
ArcelorMittal in Mexico is the largest steel company in the country. Last year it manufactured 3.9 million mt of raw steel. In its mining complexes it reported production of 4.5 million mt of iron ore.