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Strike in Pindamonhangaba Protests Against the Closure of Gerdau’s Cylinder Line, Which May Cut 20% of Jobs at the Facility.
According to CBN Vale, the Gerdau plant in Pindamonhangaba (SP) began an indefinite strike on Monday (15). The movement is led by the Metalworkers’ Union and aims to prevent the closure of the cylinder line by December, a measure that could result in 400 direct layoffs. The company’s decision, according to an official statement, is related to the pressure from imported steel and the pursuit of greater profitability of its assets.
Currently, the facility has 2,000 direct employees and 400 outsourced workers.
If the layoffs are confirmed, the loss would represent 20% of the workforce, with significant effects on the local economy.
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For the union leaders, the decision threatens not only the workers at the facility but also the entire regional supply chain that depends on the steel plant.
Context of Gerdau’s Decision
Gerdau confirmed that the cylinder line will be closed by the end of 2025, justifying the measure by the “challenging scenario of the national steel industry”, heavily affected by competition from imports, especially from China.
In recent years, the influx of foreign steel at lower prices has reduced profit margins and forced Brazilian steelmakers to reassess operations and cut costs.
For the company, halting less profitable sectors is part of a global strategy to focus on more competitive assets.
Nevertheless, the company stated that it is maintaining dialogue with the union and is committed to “caring for the people affected by the decision,” without detailing concrete plans for reassignment or compensation.
Union Position and Demands
The Metalworkers’ Union claims that there has been no effective negotiation to preserve jobs. Proposals such as reassignment of workers to other sectors of the plant or alternative production methods were not accepted by the company.
For the entity, the closure represents a threat to the stability of hundreds of families and weakens the industrial base of the region.
According to the representatives of the workers, the strike will continue until the company presents concrete measures to prevent mass layoffs.
The mobilization, which has already spread throughout the facility, aims to pressure Gerdau’s management to reconsider the decision and open space for solutions that ensure security and predictability for the employees.
Regional Impacts and Risk of Precedents
The Gerdau plant in Pindamonhangaba is considered strategic for the municipality and ranks among the main local employers.
The projected cut of 400 jobs concerns not only the workers but also municipal authorities and suppliers, who see a reduction in activities having a chain impact on commerce and services.
Experts warn that this case could set a precedent for further cuts in other units of the company if the pressure from imports and the difficulties in the steel industry continue.
For the workers, the strike represents the last attempt to keep jobs and prevent the decision from exacerbating instability in the sector.
Do you believe that Gerdau should reconsider the decision and negotiate alternatives to avoid the 400 layoffs? How do you assess the impact of measures like this on the national industry and cities that depend on steelmaking?
Leave your opinion in the comments; we want to hear your views on this subject.
Que Deus intervenha por esses trabalhadores
FEZ o L , agora chora kkkk.
A conta não fecha não adianta fazer reclamação lá na frente pelo amor ….. Vai lá falar com o lula se está entrando aço importado é porque alguém permitiu………se não entrar aço de fora a gerdau bomba