Czechia: Solidarity with steelworkers at Liberty Steel Ostrava
   | In partnership with OS KOVO, IndustriAll Europe and IndustriALL Global Union. IndustriAll European Trade Union is a federation of independent and democratic trade unions representing manual and non-manual workers in the metal, chemical, energy, mining, textile, clothing and footwear sectors and related industries and activities. It speaks for 7 million working men and women united within 200 national trade union affiliates in 39 European countries. IndustriALL Global Union represents 50 million workers in 140 countries in the mining, energy and manufacturing sectors and is a force in global solidarity taking up the fight for better working conditions and trade union rights around the world. |
The situation for steelworkers at Liberty Steel Ostrava is critical. Management announced mass layoffs on 23 July. Around five thousand people currently work in the company. The layoffs could affect up to 2,600 people. The rest of the workforce have little information about their fate. The shocking news came after Liberty Steel stopped paying Liberty Ostrava workers' wages in May already due to insolvency proceedings. The company being insolvent, uncertainty prevails as to the payment of notice periods and severance packages for dismissed workers. On 29 July, the Labour Office of the Czech Republic launched an extraordinary support programme including career guidance, retraining and wage subsidies to help Liberty Ostrava workers threatened by job loss. Czech Metalworkers OS KOVO, IndustriAll Europe and IndustriALL Global Union have been active for months to find a better outcome for workers in Ostrava without success. It’s time for the Czech government, Liberty's creditors and the European Commission to take their responsibilities towards the workforce seriously.
