Luxembourg trade unions OGBL and LCGB have urged the European Commission to step in and address the escalating crisis at the Liberty Steel plant in Dudelange.

In a joint press release issued on Friday morning, the Independent Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation (OGBL) and the Luxembourg Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (LCGB) highlighted the urgency of the situation, condemning the financial and operational challenges facing the steel plant.

At the forefront of their concerns is the non-payment of October wages, which has left employees unpaid for over three weeks. The unions expressed alarm that Liberty Steel has yet to provide a clear timeline for salary payments, raising further concerns as the end-of-year bonus and holiday season approach.

"Uncertainty is growing among the 150 employees of Liberty Steel Dudelange," the unions warned, citing the financial strain on workers and their families.

The unions also criticised Liberty Steel for failing to meet its financial obligations, accusing the company of leaving employees struggling to pay the bills on a daily basis while production at the Dudelange site remains at a standstill. Although the prospect of a new buyer has been raised, the unions argue that decisive action is urgently needed.

"Faced with a group that is allowing its European entities to sink one after the other, it is imperative to protect the employees of Dudelange and ensure the future of the site," they stated. The unions called on the European Commission to intervene, demanding "urgent measures" to replace Liberty Steel and facilitate the takeover of its activities by other operators.

In the meantime, OGBL and LCGB have initiated legal proceedings to recover outstanding wages, emphasising that employees are struggling to meet their financial commitments.

The unions also criticised Liberty Steel's broader financial instability, describing it as a "weakened" organisation incapable of fulfilling its responsibilities to employees, creditors, and authorities. The company has reportedly accumulated debts amounting to several million euros in Luxembourg alone.

Bankruptcy looms as a potential outcome for Liberty Steel Dudelange, with the company's application for court-supervised reorganisation still pending. Earlier this year, Liberty Steel had pledged to sell the Dudelange site, offering a glimmer of hope to employees and unions by suggesting that new ownership could restart operations. However, despite the presence of potential buyers, this promise remains unfulfilled.

The lack of concrete action has left employees in a state of growing uncertainty, exacerbating their sense of abandonment as they await lasting solutions. The unions stress that time is running out for the site, which now stands at a critical juncture.

More than five years after Liberty Steel assumed control of the Dudelange plant, the concerns raised by unions at the time of the acquisition have come to fruition. "Catastrophic management has plunged the site into uncertainty, leaving employees with no clear prospects," the unions stated.

For OGBL and LCGB, the current situation is unacceptable. "The employees of Dudelange must not continue to pay the price of irresponsible management and gradual abandonment," the unions asserted.