thyssenkrupp Steel and IG Metall announced that they have reached an agreement in principle regarding the company's restructuring process. The parties will continue negotiations to finalize the collective bargaining agreement by summer 2025. The agreement is based on the industrial concept presented by thyssenkrupp Steel management in November 2024, which aims to make the company independent, competitive and future-proof.
Production shipment capacity will be limited to a range of 8.7-9 million tons due to market conditions. As part of the green transformation, the construction of a direct reduction plant is underway, while the construction of an electric steel plant in Duisburg is also on the agenda.
It has been announced that no decision will be taken to close the Eichen plant in Kreuztal immediately, and that an improvement plan will be implemented to maintain economic operation in the short term. A decision on the final status of the plant is expected to be made by the end of the 2027/28 financial year at the latest. An earlier closure of the Castroper Strasse plant in Bochum will also be considered.
The parties agree that personnel adjustments and cost reductions are needed at all locations. In addition, a joint decision process will be initiated on which activities will remain in-house and which can be outsourced or sold.
Dr. Marie Jaroni, Chief Sales and Transformation Officer at thyssenkrupp Steel, stated that the agreement is a strategic step for the company to regain its competitiveness and added: “We need to implement this plan quickly in order to shape our future.” Dirk Schulte, Chief Human Resources Officer and Labor Director, emphasized that a definitive contract should be reached by the summer months and that removing uncertainty for employees is a priority.
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