The ABB factory is not a newcomer to Córdoba. Born at the beginning of the 20th century as a National Electrical Machinery Builder (Cenemesa), it has maintained its trajectory over the decades under different names, according to the companies that took control of it. In 1970 it became Westinghouse, in 1987 it was renamed Cenemesa and in 1991 it was acquired by the Swedish multinational ABB. Throughout this time it has been growing and then decreasing in its activity and employment, since it had about 1,700 workers and now it is around 350, but it has survived due to the quality of the facilities and its workers. In the last 50 years there have been labor protests, some very intense, against the plans of the successive owners to readjust their business in Spain (there are factories in Bilbao, Zaragoza and centers in several cities), and, Although it has lost a lot of employment, it is still one of the industries of excellence in Córdoba. Now the company has an agreement to sell the electricity grid business with the Japanese multinational Hitachi, and plans to close the HV circuit manufacturing line, which would entail the dismissal of 49 workers in Córdoba (13 of the aforementioned line of switches and the rest of transformers) and 10 in Galindo (Vizcaya).

It is true that the line of work that distinguishes ABB Córdoba is that of the great power transformers insulated in oil, which exports to the US, Latin America and Europe, with a turnover of around 150 million euros. But the unions and workers of Cordova are right to take with great concern the plans of the company. Each production line that disappears diminishes the future of the activity, to which is added that part of the layoffs proposed by the ERE will be produced in the main division. And the staff of ABB Córdoba is not aging, so there will be hardly any traumatic dismissals. Finally, the line of switches was considered, according to the works council, one of the company's furthest future ... The sale to the Japanese giant puts on the table the phantom of offshoring.

Este centro fabril ha sido la escuela del sindicalismo cordobés. Los empleados hicieron huelga el pasado miércoles y se desplazaron a Madrid, donde protestaron en la sede de la compa?ía. También se han reunido con instituciones y fuerzas políticas, que les muestran apoyo y se ofrecen para hacer gestiones conducentes a amortiguar estos da?os. Quizá haya posibilidad de que la Junta de Andalucía ofrezca a la firma alguna contrapartida para parar esta marea, pero es complicado. Sin embargo, ceder y no apoyar la causa de estos trabajadores es dar un paso más para que Córdoba siga perdiendo esa tradición industrial nacida de la Sociedad Electromecánicas que la hizo singular -y de la que apenas quedan ya unos cuantos ejemplos se?eros-, ese empleo cualificado y el empleo indirecto en transporte y servicios. Los trabajadores se manifiestan ma?ana, y han pedido el apoyo de su ciudad. Mantener ABB, con su nombre actual, o llámese Hitachi, es vital para una Córdoba que no debe resignarse a vivir solo del turismo.