Belgian steelworkers clash with police after plant shuts

http://www.euronews.com/ Steel workers clashed with police outside the Belgian Prime Minister's office in Liege in protest over the closure of a major steel facility.

In a statement, steelmaking giant ArcelorMittal said they sustained an operating loss of 200 million euros in the first nine months of 2012.

The closure means up to 1300 workers will lose their jobs.

"I don't know what I'll do, I don't have any idea," said one of the workers. "I think many of us are in the same situation and it'll get worse if we don't do anything. If Mittal isn't thrown out of Belgium, it's an open door for others, if he starts down this path".

The workers are angry at what they see as the company reneging on earlier promises to keep the 'cold' side of the steel business operating.

Didier Reynders, the Belgian Foreign Minister told euronews: "There is less and less confidence in Mr Mittal because after so many promises and then so many huge decisions, it's quite difficult to discuss with him".

ArcelorMittal said that unions had rejected an offer to keep the plant's six lines operating between zero and one hundred percent, depending on market demand.

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[maneaterbug1993]

Capitalism is already rotten. These steelworkers have the same problems as the Greek ones. See videos about the greek steelworkers who were on a strike for almost a year.

Capitalism is the same everywhere. Smash it.

[SkinGrindCleaver]

the EU is going down like the Titanic, and still the band of politicians play on.

[nooganator]

we are giving all this money away year after year a billion to india, if we added up all the money we have given away in the last 50 years we wouldnt even be in debt its the liberals who have taken over the country they did this on purpose

[SkinGrindCleaver]

yeah but it needs everyone to wake up, look how they say the UK is running the risk of a triple dip recession then pledge another 21 million in aid to Syria on top of the 89 million already sent! its fucked..how do people fall for their lies!?

[nooganator]

its not normal the public trust people who have lied and committed fraud look at the expenses scandal wtf they were all in on it and the banks are ripping people off with bank charges and ppi etc then the government take our taxes to bail them out when our taxes should be for our welfare, nhs and schools etc and how wikileaks exposed the lies and people still dont care! its really fucked up to me but i know im not alone thank god

[SkinGrindCleaver]

bail out after bail out, protest after protest, suicide after suicide...yes its really working...it is finished..dead as a dodo.

[SkinGrindCleaver]

the public hope the ones who created the mess will sort it out, it's disturbing how placid everyone is...apart from the Femen birds with their tits out, no one does anything.

[SkinGrindCleaver]

doubtful, 4 years, 5 years later from the initial crash and what has got better? nothing, its got worse...the EU is finished, only a moron would want to do business or invest there.

[nooganator]

yes its utter madness the european economy is dropping like a stone nothing can prevent the inevitable crash they will just keep printing money until the bitter end and the public swallow their horse shit stupid bastards

[fartunique]

The Belgians can thank the EU's Carbon Emission tax for the closure of its steel plant.