Thyssenkrupp presents complex turnaround plan for steel workers

Thyssenkrupp has worked out a new strategy for the group's steel business, a leading labor representative said on Tuesday, adding the roadmap included significant investments but also restructuring steps.

The strategy paper was presented to the supervisory board of Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe on Tuesday, following labor protests at the division's headquarters in Duisburg, in the heart of the Ruhr area, Germany's industrial heartland.

The unit's future hangs in the balance after a deal to combine it with the European division of Tata Steel collapsed earlier this year, forcing management to announce the reduction of 2,000 out of the unit's total 27,000 jobs.

Knut Giesler, who leads the powerful IG Metall union in North Rhine-Westphalia, where Thyssenkrupp is based, said the new plans, which were kept under wraps, would be assessed by workers and be discussed with management.

The group had earlier said there was limited scope for additional funds for Steel Europe in light of Thyssenkrupp's stretched balance sheet, which is aching under 12.7 billion euros ($14 billion) of debt and pension liabilities.

Thyssenkrupp said its current plans include 570 million euros of investments for steel per year, adding it would have to first review the unit's new strategy before it would decide whether to top that up - and by how much.

Steel workers have demanded 1.5 billion euros of investments over several years.

.Asian Metal CopyrightThyssenkrupp has worked out a new strategy for the group's steel business, a leading labor representative said on Tuesday, adding the roadmap included significant investments but also restructuring steps.Asian Metal Copyright