SteelcityZen Galați

24/09/2026

Liberty Galați: The City Waits, the Steelworkers Still Hope

For the SteelCityZen community, the combinat's story isn't just about tonnes of steel — it's about the people who gave it life for decades. And this autumn, their story remains on hold.

Although tolling contracts were signed on July 22, 2026 with Glencore (UK) and Kayseri Metal Center (Turkey) — a signal that operations could resume without a sale of the plant — a month and a half later, the rolling mills at Liberty Galați are still idle. The company's restructuring administrator, Paul Dieter Cîrlănaru, says the firm wants to restart activity but is being held back by several external problems, including rising energy prices and difficulties with Danube river transport.

Meanwhile, over 2,000 employees haven't been paid since June. Since January, the plant has lost more than 1,000 workers, and those who remain go to work without pay, safeguarding the company's assets. The situation has pushed people into the streets: steelworkers held a spontaneous protest in front of the Prefecture, demanding a real solution rather than more promises.

The Cartel Alfa union has called for urgent government intervention, requesting talks between unions, management, and authorities to lay out a clear plan for paying back wages and keeping the plant running. Against a backdrop of two failed auctions, the starting price for selling the plant has dropped from €709 million in March to €463 million in June — a sign of just how fragile the city's negotiating position has become for the future of its steel industry.

From 40,000 employees during the communist era to roughly 2,000 today — the plant that built Galați's identity is going through the hardest period in its recent history.

📢 SteelCityZen stands with the former and current workers of the combinat. If you have a story, a memory, or an experience tied to Liberty Galați / the Galați Steelworks, write to us — your voices matter in this conversation.

01/09/2026

**AUGUST | What happens when an industrial future is uncertain?**

August brought another chapter in the difficult story of Liberty Galați.

After two unsuccessful international auctions — with starting prices of €709 million and €463 million — the process moved towards **direct negotiations**, with the minimum price expected to fall further. Interest from potential investors, including UMB Steel, kept the possibility of a future for the site alive, but the direction remained uncertain.

For Galați, the question is therefore bigger than who might acquire an industrial asset.

**What kind of future can be built around a steel city when its industrial heart is at risk?**

The answer involves more than ownership and financial figures. It involves jobs, skills, supply chains, families, local identity and the possibility of transforming an industrial legacy into a sustainable future.

The story of Galați's steel industry reminds us that urban transition is never only about buildings, infrastructure or technology. **It is about people — and about making sure that the future of a city does not leave its communities behind.**

At Steel City Zen, we continue to look at Galați through this lens: connecting industrial heritage, social resilience and the future of the city.

01/09/2026

**JULY | When a city asks to keep working**

In July, the crisis surrounding Galați’s steel industry stopped being just an economic story. It became a deeply human one.

On 7 July, dozens of Liberty Galați steelworkers gathered in front of the Galați Prefecture with a simple but powerful message: **“We want to work.”** Production had been stopped for around a year, employees were facing reduced working hours and uncertainty over their wages, while hundreds of families were living with the fear of losing their livelihoods.

For Galați, this is about much more than a factory.

Steel has shaped the city’s economy, its neighbourhoods, its skills, its stories and its sense of identity for generations. When an industrial platform falls silent, the effects are felt far beyond its gates — in families, local businesses, public services and the wider community.

At Steel City Zen, we believe that understanding a city also means listening to the people who have built it.

**A resilient city is not only a city that changes. It is a city that remembers, listens and finds ways forward.**

03/07/2026

🌱 June is a great time to invest in your future!

As industries continue to evolve, new opportunities emerge for those willing to learn, adapt, and grow. Whether you're looking to develop new skills, explore different career paths, or strengthen your professional resilience, every small step today can lead to greater opportunities tomorrow.

At SteelCityZen, we believe that people are at the heart of every successful industrial transition. By supporting lifelong learning, innovation, and collaboration, we aim to help communities build a stronger, more resilient future.

💡 This June, challenge yourself to:
✅ Learn a new digital or technical skill.
✅ Connect with your local community and professional networks.
✅ Explore training and upskilling opportunities.
✅ Share your ideas for a more resilient and inclusive labour market.

Together, we can shape a future where industrial heritage becomes a foundation for sustainable growth and new opportunities for everyone.

02/06/2026

💙 More Than a Paycheck

For many families in Galați, April brought a moment of relief as the payment of outstanding salaries to Liberty Galați employees finally began.

Behind every paycheck is more than a financial transaction. It represents stability, dignity, security, and peace of mind for thousands of workers and their loved ones.

Months of uncertainty can take a toll not only on household budgets, but also on mental and emotional well-being. Stress, anxiety, and concern for the future are challenges that many people in our community have faced together.

At SteelCityZen Galați, we believe that resilience is built not only through hard work, but also through support, connection, and care for one another.

As our community continues to move forward, let's remember the importance of looking after both our financial and mental well-being—and supporting those around us through difficult times.

Because behind every industry are people, families, and stories that matter.

💙 SteelCityZen Galați

Source: Monitorul de Galați (7 April 2026) – "S-a dat startul la plata salariilor restante ale siderurgiștilor de la Liberty Galați." According to the report, payments from the Salary Guarantee Fund began for nearly 3,000 employees of Liberty Galați and Liberty Tubular Products Galați.

02/06/2026

🌿 Strength Beyond Steel: Supporting Mental Well-Being Through Change 🌿

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, we would like to reflect on a topic that is especially meaningful for our community in Galați.

For decades, the steel industry has been more than just a workplace—it has shaped families, careers, friendships, and generations of hardworking people. Today, as many workers and families face uncertainty, restructuring, or job loss, the emotional impact can be just as significant as the financial challenges.

Periods of transition often bring stress, anxiety, frustration, and self-doubt. These feelings are natural. Major life changes affect not only our routines, but also our sense of identity and purpose.

At SteelCityZen Galați, we believe that resilience is not measured only by physical endurance. True resilience is also found in the ability to adapt, seek support, learn new skills, care for ourselves, and move forward one step at a time.

Whether you are directly affected by recent developments in the steel sector, supporting a family member, or simply navigating uncertain times, remember:

✨ Your experience and skills still matter.
✨ Your value is not defined by a job title.
✨ Taking care of your mental well-being is a strength, not a luxury.
✨ Community support can make a powerful difference.

Let's continue supporting one another, sharing hope, and creating spaces where people can reconnect, grow, and find balance during times of change.

Together, we are stronger than steel.

💙 SteelCityZen Galați

18/03/2026

📍 On March 10th, the Galați Municipality hosted a new event in the framework of SteelCityZen project!
🔎 The highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the Status Quo Analysis of the local labor market, developed in collaboration with Thecon.
👥 The event brought together 25 local stakeholders, creating an active space for dialogue and exchange of ideas.
🎤 Presentations delivered by Project Manager Cristi Marian OCHIU and THECON representative Marius GERU highlighted:
✔️ project objectives
✔️ the current labor market context
✔️ best practice examples
✔️ directions for action and development opportunities
💬 Discussions were dynamic and solution-oriented, with participants exploring how these ideas can be adapted and implemented at the local level.
🤝 The strong interest in continuing collaboration and building on project results confirms the relevance of our approach.
✅ A successful event, marked by active participation, valuable dialogue, and openness towards action!

02/03/2026

📢 March 2026 Update: What Recent Local News Means for Steelworkers in Galați

Recently, local newspapers have highlighted ongoing challenges in Galați’s industrial sector — news that directly affects workers and families connected to the steel industry.

🔹 The situation at Liberty Galați continues to create uncertainty for thousands of employees, many of whom have been in technical unemployment or facing delayed salary payments. Public protests this month reflect the deep concern within the community.

🔹 At the same time, discussions about potential investors and restructuring in the steel sector have reopened conversations about the future of former ArcelorMittal operations in Galați and the possibility of industrial recovery.

🔹 The impact is not limited to steel. In February, hundreds of workers from Damen Shipyards Galați also entered technical unemployment, showing that industrial transition is affecting multiple sectors locally.

What does this mean for unemployed or discharged workers?

✔ Industrial transformation is difficult — but it can also open new pathways.
✔ Diversification of the local economy is no longer optional; it is necessary.
✔ Reskilling and upskilling are becoming key tools for long-term stability.

Through SteelCityZen project, funded by Interreg Europe, the Municipality of Galați is working with European partners to improve local policies that support:

🔹 Workforce transition
🔹 Access to new skills and training
🔹 Stronger cooperation between industry, public authorities and education providers
🔹 More resilient local labour markets

💬 We invite affected workers and community members to join the conversation:

What kind of training would help you most right now?

Which sectors do you believe could offer real opportunities in Galați’s future?

Your voice matters. Industrial change should not leave people behind — it should create new chances for growth.

13/02/2026

📢 Vocea gălățenilor contează! Spune-ți părerea despre piața muncii și poți câștiga 500 lei!

Piața muncii din Galați trece printr-o perioadă de schimbări accelerate. Tranziția verde și digitală, lipsa forței de muncă în anumite domenii și nevoia de adaptare a competențelor la noile cerințe economice sunt doar câteva dintre provocările actuale.

Acum ai ocazia să contribui direct la conturarea viitorului pieței muncii locale!

🔎 A fost lansat un chestionar dedicat analizei pieței muncii din Galați, care își propune să ofere o imagine reală și actuală asupra situației din oraș. Sunt invitați să participe:
✔ angajați
✔ angajatori
✔ studenți
✔ furnizori de formare
✔ persoane aflate în căutarea unui loc de muncă

💡 De ce este important să participi?
Răspunsurile tale vor contribui la:
▪ identificarea principalelor provocări și blocaje din piața muncii
▪ înțelegerea nevoilor reale de formare și reconversie profesională
▪ analizarea diferențelor dintre cererea și oferta de muncă
▪ dezvoltarea unor măsuri adaptate realităților locale

📊 Datele colectate vor fi folosite exclusiv în scop de cercetare și dezvoltare strategică, iar răspunsurile sunt analizate anonim, conform Regulamentului (UE) 2016/679 (GDPR).

🎁 Participă și poți câștiga!
Completează chestionarul până pe 16 februarie 2026 (inclusiv) și intri automat în tombola cu tragere la sorți pentru unul dintre cele 3 vouchere eMAG, în valoare de 500 lei fiecare.

Extragerea va avea loc pe 17 februarie 2026, prin intermediul platformei random.org.

📝 Completează chestionarul aici:
👉 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScxsQ00qIZ93YMYEmltF0xl9MlLEVCKOOHz-fgzqs9OblewUw/viewform

📘 Chestionarul este realizat de compania Thecon, în cadrul proiectului SteelCityZen, cofinanțat prin Programul Interreg Danube Region al Uniunii Europene. Proiectul sprijină orașele cu tradiție industrială în procesul de diversificare a pieței muncii și adaptare la noile tranziții economice.

Implică-te. Opinia ta poate contribui la decizii mai bune pentru viitorul profesional al comunității noastre! 💙

Acest chestionar face parte din procesul de analiză a situației actuale a pieței muncii din Municipiul Galați, realizat în cadrul proiectului european SteelCityZen – “Diversifying labour markets in industrial cities of the Danube Region via enhanced stakeholder cooperation & skills matchmak...