Trade unions representing Liberty Steel workers globally have called the group’s management “irresponsible” after holding an online crisis meeting.

The meeting warned against the risk of Europe’s steel production capacities becoming “severely damaged and the green steel challenge unmet”, the IndustriALL union federation says in a note seen by Kallanish.

“Production capacities of Liberty Steel are at a dramatically low level in Europe, with blast furnaces idle for weeks without any clear prospect for restarting in several of the European facilities,” the note observes. Over 20,000 workers at Ostrava, Galati, Dudelange, Liège, Częstochowa, Dunaújváros and Piombino are either sent home, as production has stopped, “or live with the daily uncertainty and fear for the future of their jobs”.

"The level of concern has reached an all-time high level amongst workers as dialogue with trade unions and public authorities falls short of being satisfactory. IndustriAll Europe and IndustriALL Global Union have been repeatedly calling for an emergency meeting between [Liberty Steel chief executive] Mr [Sanjeev] Gupta and a delegation of GFG Alliance’s trade unions for months without success," the unions explain.

"Production facilities are damaged after months of inactivity. Highly committed workers who developed strategic know-how over years of professional experience are leaving the company for lack of future prospect. Suppliers and customers alike question the relevance of maintaining their business relationships with a company which proves unable to live up to its promises. Millions of euros are now required to fix the harm, resume production and invest in green steel," they continue.

"Mr Gupta’s mismanagement is putting Europe’s autonomy in steel production at risk, at a time when the EU cannot afford to deprive itself of such strategic assets, especially with wars being fought at our doors," the note concludes.

Unions have urged GFG to provide full transparency on its consolidated finances and the specific refinancing plan for Europe, as well as a detailed schedule for production resumption at Liberty Steel’s European plants. Moreover, they are demanding the European Commission set up a crisis taskforce on the GFG Alliance/Liberty Steel case. And also that national governments where GFG Alliance/Liberty Steel operates call on Gupta to commit to an industrial plan and social guarantees, especially when granting public funding.

Liberty Steel could not be reached for comment before deadline on Wednesday.