Since the 1970s, deindustrialisation has fundamentally changed Luxembourg’s economy, shifting its focus from industry to services. Beyond these major structural changes, the restructuring of the steel industry has had important consequences at the local level, both for workers and for industrial towns. This research focuses on the impact of deindustrialisation in three industrial towns in Luxembourg, Esch, Dudelange and Pétange, and aims to explore local challenges and initiatives in response to the restructuring of the steel industry.
The closure of blast furnaces and rolling mills triggered intense debates in the town councils of Luxembourg's steel towns, focusing on issues such as the town budget and overall viability. Industrial decline was seen as a potential 'death blow' for the existence of the towns, leading various stakeholders, including workers, shop owners, trade unionists and politicians, to rally against the closure of the local blast furnace. A key area of interest in the research are the local strategies implemented to address the challenges of deindustrialisation and the decisions taken by the steel companies ARBED and MMR-A and the Tripartite Conference. Although the focus of the research is on the cities, the national and European levels are also taken into account, as local actions extended beyond city boundaries.
Wednesday, 20 March 2024
14.00 - 15.00
C²DH Open Space (4th floor, Maison des Sciences humaines)
