Unions call strike at ArcelorMittal's Ilva plant over job cut plan
2020-06-09 13:31:08 [Print]
Unions representing workers at the Ilva steel plant in southern Italy called a strike for Tuesday to protest at reported plans by ArcelorMittal for thousands of job cuts at the struggling facility.
The call by the FIM, FIOM and UILM unions came after Industry Minister Stefano Patuanelli accused the group of failing to respect the terms of a rescue agreement signed with the government in March. Under that agreement, ArcelorMittal agreed to suspend plans to walk away from the plant in the southern city of Taranto, which it acquired in 2018, in exchange for a significant injection of state funding.
It was reported that a new industrial plan presented to the government late last Friday included 5,000 job cuts. A spokeswoman for ArcelorMittal confirmed the group had presented a plan but declined to provide details.
Patuanelli said last Saturday that an industrial plan presented by the group was not in line with the March agreement and that ArcelorMittal appeared to be using the COVID-19 emergency as an excuse for not sticking to the agreement.
The unions said the plan was unacceptable and demanded full employment, investment and environmental restructuring in line with an agreement from 2018. Unions are expected to meet Patuanelli on Tuesday to discuss the situation.
The call by the FIM, FIOM and UILM unions came after Industry Minister Stefano Patuanelli accused the group of failing to respect the terms of a rescue agreement signed with the government in March. Under that agreement, ArcelorMittal agreed to suspend plans to walk away from the plant in the southern city of Taranto, which it acquired in 2018, in exchange for a significant injection of state funding.
It was reported that a new industrial plan presented to the government late last Friday included 5,000 job cuts. A spokeswoman for ArcelorMittal confirmed the group had presented a plan but declined to provide details.
Patuanelli said last Saturday that an industrial plan presented by the group was not in line with the March agreement and that ArcelorMittal appeared to be using the COVID-19 emergency as an excuse for not sticking to the agreement.
The unions said the plan was unacceptable and demanded full employment, investment and environmental restructuring in line with an agreement from 2018. Unions are expected to meet Patuanelli on Tuesday to discuss the situation.
