Since March of this year, Ampacet has engaged in good-faith discussions, respecting labor laws, with union representatives to renew our bargaining agreement. Despite efforts and negotiations, which also included the assistance of the Luxembourgish facilitator (ONC), an agreement was not reached, leading Ampacet to request non-conciliation.

It is essential to highlight that the final offer presented by Ampacet to the ONC is significantly higher than what has been reported in the media by OGBL. The proposed adjustments and additional benefits were offered on top of the benefits that all employees already have.

We also respect any employee who chooses to exercise their right to strike, but we cannot condone acts of defamation, intimidation, and unlawful behavior of any kind. Unfortunately, the nearly 30% of our employees who have not chosen to strike are being intimidated and verbally assaulted when coming to work. In addition, staff of our suppliers and clients are being blocked at the site entrance, despite a court order that expressly prohibits such denial of access to our facility. We encourage OGBL to ensure that the right to strike is done so in a peaceful manner.

Acknowledging the challenging market conditions in 2023, which significantly impacted Ampacet Dudelange, and recognizing that the outlook for economic growth in Europe for 2024 remains similarly challenging, we are continuing with our plans to add more color production capabilities at the Dudelange site. This demonstrates Ampacet’s resilience and dedication to our Dudelange plant, our workers, and to Luxembourg.