stellantis wants to reduce the workforce in the United States and Canada through an incentive and voluntary exit plan. The automotive group led by Carlo Tavares is planning to tfire about 3.500 workers in manufacturing plants. It has announced the president of the Uaw union (United Auto Workers), Shawn Fain, via a post on Facebook harshly criticizing the Group's choice.
“Stellantis pushes to cut thousands of jobs while raking in billions in profits, it's disgusting” writes Fain. “This is a slap in the face to our associates, their families, their communities and the American people who saved this company 15 years ago. Even now, politicians and taxpayers are funding the EV transition, and that's the thanks the working class gets. Shame on Stellantis” the conclusion of the note from the president of the union.
The Chief Operating Officer of Stellantis, Mark stewart, he allegedly told employees that a review of the group's operations "revealed that we need to become more efficient."
The incentives to leave will be offered to 33.500 workers
Il program of voluntary and incentivized exits will be proposed to 33.500 workers provided that we have worked at least 15 years in the company in certain sectors. The workers affected by the program would be 31.000 on hourly wages and 2.500 employees. According to some analysts, the idea of encouraging redundancies would allow the Group to make cuts without creating friction with the unions. In 2023 Stellantis had already discontinued its operations in one plant of assembly in Illinois indefinitely cutting 1.350 workers due to the increase in production costs of electric vehicles. It's not just US factories under pressure. In Italy, for example, had made the same deal with the unions last year for the exit of 714 voluntary exits with incentives. According to a note from the Fiom-Cgil in the factories of Cassino, Mirafiori, Enti Centrali, Pratola Serra, Termoli and Cento, for this year there are expected cuts for about 1800 places.
Objective to reduce costs and push on electrification
Stellantis' plan to reduce the workforce in the United States stems fromgoal of reducing costs focusing more and more on its process electrification. For two years, Stellantis' commitment has focused on the electric car and these cuts would thus allow further investments in the sector. The Group has committed to investments of 35,5 billion dollars by 2025 with a particular focus on the US and European markets.
Stellantis shares in Piazza Affari, after a negative start, mark a increase of +0,77% at 14,77 euro.
