Strike over BASF site closure at Feluy, Belgium ends

17 June 2005 17:26  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (CNI)--A strike involving the 306 employees at BASF’s Feluy, Belgium site has ended, a BASF spokesman for the company’s communications intermediates division said Friday.

 

The 24-hour strike, which began Thursday morning (16 June), came in response to BASF’s announcement on Wednesday to cease production at its 90,000 tonne/year phthalic anhydride (PA) plant and several plasticiser units at Feluy due to stagnation in the European market.

 

Around 203 jobs could be cut. The BASF spokesman said the management is currently in negotiations with unions and the works council at the site on the future of the workers.

 

The strike also raised concerns from workers at BASF’s 115,000 tonne/year maleic anhydride (MA) plant at Feluy over the future of this facility, as it will be the only remaining production unit at the BASF site. 

 

Market sources in the European maleic anhydride market today said the strike had disrupted MA deliveries and the restart of the plant following a turnaround. The strike also had a minor impact on deliveries of other products, according to the spokesman. Normal supplies were expected to resume at the beginning of next week.

 

(Geraldine Gilmartin contributed to this article.)

By: Hilde Ovrebekk
+44 20 8652 3214

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