Members of the Ferroven board of directors informed the union that, if there are no responses from the parent company, the Venezuelan State will intervene in the company
Text: Francesca Dias / Mail of the Caroni
Photo: William Urdaneta
Workers of the Ferroatlántica de Venezuela (Ferroven) in an interview with Mail of the Caroni reported that they held a meeting with Alberto Gibson, a member of the company’s board of directors, and Ziomara Murillo, chief of staff, in order to learn about the actions being taken by the administration to achieve the reactivation of the factory.
The spokespersons explained that they were told that representatives of the company are holding talks with the Venezuelan Corporation of Guayana (CVG), in order to form a mixed commission that manages the quota of electricity required to light at least one of the four ovens that they have. in plant.
“The commission proposed by CVG would be made up of Dr. Alberto Gibson for Ferroven, officials from CVG and Corpoelec. The purpose would be to set up a technical table to look for formulas and agreements that allow the company to start up, “said Gustavo Barrios, Secretary of Labor and Claims of the Union of Ferroven Workers (UnisitraFerroven).
The meeting with the board responds to the need that the union finds to unify efforts between the company administration and the working mass, in order to demand a response from the competent entities and reactivate the company.
“Dr. Gibson explained to us that he has attended several meetings on behalf of the company in the CVG, with Corpoelec and other government agencies responsible for the issue of electricity for the start-up of the company. The CVG authorities have expressed their willingness to support and intercede with other state institutions,” said Barrios.
Likewise, according to the secretary’s statements, the National Electricity Corporation (Corpoelec), would have responded that they are working on the basis of increasing the production of electricity to energize the production of the basic companies of Guayana.
“Dr. Gibson informed us that the CVG is proposing that he integrate a mixed commission, whose purpose is the acquisition of raw materials and electricity necessary for the manufacture of ferroalloys,” declared Barrios.
In this sense, the union would have already made a similar proposal, in which they propose a strategic alliance between the state company and Ferroven, through which resources are provided for the reactivation of the company so that it supplies ferroalloys to the briquetting companies of the holding company, among them, the Siderúrgica del Orinoco (Sidor) and the Guayana Iron and Steel Complex (Comsigua).
Ferroven before possible state intervention
Ferroven until 1998 was CVG Venezolana de Ferrosilicio (Fesilven) and was state-owned. However, for the referred year it was privatized and acquired by a Spanish consortium based in Madrid, Ferroatlántica de España, which acquired 80% of the shares.
The remaining 20% was earmarked for workers who would serve as minority shareholders; however, only 15% managed to be awarded and 5% remains in the hands of the state company and, consequently, of the Venezuelan State.
According to the union’s statements, the possibility of an intervention by CVG in Ferroven is on the table.
“If there are no positive signs from the Spanish parent company, the CVG or the government is going to intervene in the company. That is something that they have already told the board of directors, in such a way that we are in a delicate and, at the same time, favorable situation. If the parent company does not give a positive signal and appoint Gibson as the company’s representative to look for the mechanisms through the technical table among the institutions involved, there will simply be an intervention by CVG. I don’t know what the plan they have with the company will be. That is what we observed that could happen, “explained Barrios.
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