Alcoa considers to lay-off 534 workers from its San Ciprian aluminium plant in Spain

On 28^th May’20, the aluminium producer, Alcoa announced that it is considering to lay-off 534 workers San Ciprian aluminium plant in the Spanish region of Galicia. However, a final decision is yet to be made.

The high energy costs and low aluminium prices led to persistent losses and left the plant unable to compete internationally, the company said

Workers representatives will meet with Alcoa's management for three weeks of talks to discuss what challenges the plant faces and the options available.

"No decision will be taken until this consultation period has finished," Alcoa said.

Union representative Jose Antonio Zan blasted the company's actions as "shameful" and attacked the government for failing to support the highly energy-intensive industry.

He also said: "We have been asking for a stable energy price for a long time, we have been saying that electro-intensive industries must be supported, as they are in the rest of Europe.”

Including contractors and employees, San Ciprian's workforce numbers around 2,000 people, he added.

Francisco Conde, the Galicia region's economy councillor, echoed his criticism of the government's inaction.

He added: "The decision made by Alcoa is a response to the lack of initiative and response from the government of Spain to establish a price of electricity that would be competitive enough to produce primary aluminium.”