Thy-Marcinelle Strike Escalates in Charleroi

Workers at the Thy-Marcinelle steelworks in Charleroi have sharply escalated their strike action on Thursday, blocking access not only to trucks but also to colleagues from the plant’s cold phase, effectively shutting down the entire site. The intensification marks a significant turning point in a labor dispute that has been building for months over the planned closure of the facility’s hot phase and the loss of 179 jobs.

Context of the Dispute

The Thy-Marcinelle site, owned by the Italian Riva Group since 1989, is a historic steelworks in the Charleroi industrial basin producing wire rod, rebar, and other steel products. The current conflict centers on management’s decision to close the hot phase — the steelmaking and rolling mill operations — a move that threatens nearly 180 positions at a plant that already employed fewer than 500 workers at the start of 2025.

According to RTBF, management formally announced its intention to close the hot phase on January 19, citing intense competition from Asian products, a slowdown in the construction sector, and high energy costs in Belgium. Since February 2025, workers in the hot phase had been on a “grande suspension” scheme — alternating 17 weeks of unemployment with one week of work — which was set to expire.

Legal Process and Failed Negotiations

A Renault procedure — the Belgian legal framework requiring companies to inform and consult worker representatives before implementing collective redundancies — was initiated in February 2026. As La Libre reported, the information and consultation phase closed in early May, after which negotiations on the social plan began in earnest.

Those negotiations broke down when unions deemed management’s severance proposals insufficient. Jacky Neijns, president of the FGTB union delegation at the plant, told Télésambre: “This is not acceptable after 20 or 30 years of labor for some.” He added that workers expect management “to formulate truly worthwhile proposals,” rather than offers that merely meet the legal minimum.

Escalation Timeline

The strike began during the week of May 18-22 after unions walked away from the negotiating table. On Wednesday, May 27, workers renewed their picket line and blocked truck access to the site. The decisive escalation came on Thursday, May 28, when striking workers extended their blockade to prevent cold-phase employees from entering the plant, bringing all operations to a complete halt.

Broader Economic Context

The Thy-Marcinelle dispute is unfolding against a troubling backdrop for employment in Charleroi. Mayor Thomas Dermine reported in February that the city had lost approximately 3,000 of the 8,000 jobs created between 2017 and 2023 in just 18 months, as documented by DHnet. Recent job losses include 150 positions at Catalent in Gosselies, 56 threatened jobs at Husqvarna in Ghislenghien, and the announced closure of Dawn Foods in Manage affecting 80 workers.

Analysis and Outlook

The escalation at Thy-Marcinelle signals growing militancy among workers who feel cornered by the restructuring. By blocking access to cold-phase employees — who are not directly affected by the layoffs — the striking workers have demonstrated their willingness to apply maximum pressure on management and the Riva Group.

The outcome of this dispute could set a significant precedent for other restructuring negotiations in the Walloon industrial basin, where multiple companies are grappling with similar challenges. The Riva Group has not yet indicated whether it will improve its social plan offer, and it remains unclear whether the Walloon regional government will intervene with additional support measures.

For the workers facing redundancy after decades of service, the question is whether their mobilization will force a better deal — or whether Thy-Marcinelle will become another chapter in Charleroi’s long and difficult story of deindustrialization.