The figure of the union struggle at Ascoval suspected of breach of trust

Bruno Kopczynski, former spokesperson for the Ascoval intersyndical in Saint-Saulve, in the North.

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• The former spokesperson for the intersyndical at Ascoval, in Saint-Saulve, in the North, is suspected of having embezzled more than 500,000 euros from the works council.

• An investigation for breach of trust was opened and entrusted to the judicial police.

• The Saint-Saulve steel plant has just been officially taken over by the company Liberty Steel.

He was the figure of the fight for employment at Ascoval.

The former spokesperson of the intersyndical, Bruno Kopczynski is now suspected of having embezzled more than 500,000 euros from the works council, reports

.

Former treasurer of this works council, for three years, at the metallurgical plant of Saint-Saulve, in the North, he was also summoned in August by the management for an interview prior to the dismissal.

Change in professional elections

In a letter to which the regional newspaper had access, the management suspected him of having embezzled about 520,000 euros "for the benefit of his company", an event box called ESO-Prod, which recently went out of business.

The affair started in November 2019 with the professional elections within Ascoval.

The CFDT, trade union to which Bruno Kopczynski belonged, was beaten by the CGT.

The new representatives then wondered about irregularities observed in the works council accounts.

The suspicions were sufficient for the management to appoint an expert, responsible for verifying the balance sheets between 2017 and 2019.

On the basis of the report made by the accountant, a complaint for breach of trust was filed with the Lille prosecutor on June 30.

Contacted by

, the public prosecutor emphasizes having entrusted the investigation to the Interregional Directorate of the Judicial Police.

Disciplinary proceedings

At the same time as this judicial aspect, disciplinary proceedings were opened by the management of Ascoval against Bruno Kopczynski.

Contacted by

, the latter, also deputy mayor in Hergnies, near Valenciennes, did not respond.

Just like other staff representatives.

For three years, between 2016 and 2019, the employees of the Ascoval steelworks in Saint-Saulve were plunged into a painful procedure after the announcement of the sale of the site by the owner Vallourec.

After many twists and turns, the resumption of the site, as well as that of Hayange, in Moselle, ended up being validated by the government in August.

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• Society

• Lille

• Dismissal

• Diversion

• Ascoval

• CFDT