ArcelorMittal, the world’s second largest company, plans to close two factories in northern France, where they already employ more than 130 people, unions said on Monday.
ArcelorMittal is the latest company to announce plans to cut jobs and close plants in France, which is struggling due to economic problems.
There are 112 people employed at the company’s site near Reims and another 24 in Denain, according to the unions.
“Production is scheduled to stop in June,” the unions said in a statement. The first move will begin in early April.
ArcelorMittal revealed last week that the two sites were suffering from a “significant decline in activity” among its industrial and automotive customers that “has accelerated in recent months”.
About 100 workers gathered in front of a site near Reims early Monday, protesting the plans.
The workers were also called to meet on Tuesday.
On Monday, ArcelorMittal called on the European Union to protect the competitiveness of European steel.
In early November, French tire company Michelin said it would close two French plants as early as 2026, the latest signs of a struggle in Europe’s auto industry.
The plants in Cholet and Vannes in western France together employ more than 1,250 people.
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