The 655 workers at the BSH plant in Skicroz have been informed this Monday that they will close their job, “a great shock”, according to their words. As explained by the LAB representative and chairman of the committee, Juanjo Hermoso de Mendoza, the closure has been communicated by "a kind of single administrator" from Germany who "deals with treasury". He acknowledged that they knew that “something big” was coming, but that the closure “was nowhere.”

After reading "coldly" a statement, workers were informed of the closure of the company: “These details dehumanize all humanity and highlight the cruellest face of multinationals,” said the workers’ representative.

“This is clearly a relocation”

The company has accused workers of lack of competitiveness, “without providing any evidence to prove it”, according to the workers. They have been given an adjustment in the production of the workplaces and have been informed that they will close the Ezkirotz plant. The Works Council has shown its disagreement with the lack of competitiveness on the part of the company concerned. In March of this year it was reported in a press conference that in the department stores of Pamplona they met the same products as in the BSH of Skíroz, but produced in the Turkish and Polish plants of the group. “The economic balance is not from the factory, but from BSH Appliances Spain. Big companies have the opportunity to do financial engineering. This is a clear relocation,” said Hermoso de Mendoza.

On Tuesday the company has been closed and since 9:30 in the morning the members of the committee have met to define the next steps. According to reports, on Wednesday they will hold a concentration in Skis and on Saturday a demonstration in Pamplona under the motto "not to close the BSH, for the Navarra industry", to denounce the "serious situation" of the Navarra industry. “We are not the only ones, Antolin and Sunsunsundegi are also wrong,” they denounced.

In search of explanations

The workers have asked for an urgent meeting with the BSH operations officer, Pepe Juste. They have also requested meetings with the Industry Advisor, Mikel Irujo, and the Government President, María Chivite, on the grounds that the Government can put pressure on the workers. “We ask you to work actively for the company to reverse. Let them do all they can to ensure that the ESO in Esquiroz is active and that jobs are guaranteed.”