In fact, nothing new, we will see each other again next 2 April. The Beko dispute continues to remain at a standstill according to the unions who still declare themselves "dissatisfied" and who write - in black and white - "that an agreement without a real commitment that excludes layoffs will be impossible“. No official statement from the Turkish multinational at the end of theyet another meeting held today at the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy. There are still many knots to be untied in view of the next face to face meeting for which the workers' organizations have "asked the Government to involve the Regions Lombardy e Brands to try to avoid the closure of research centers", write the trade unions Fim, Fiom and Uilm in a joint note.
Beko, dispute at a standstill: too many redundancies, agreement far away
On the industrial plans, some clarifications have been given and some commitments have been made regarding new products to be assigned to Cassinetta, commonality, Melano, as well as on new activities of Carinaro, “but we ask for an immediate detailed comparison in each plant that clarifies the articulation and implications of the investments and production missions”.
At the same time in the staff and research functions the reduction of redundancies is “unsatisfactory“, passing by 678 to 500, of which approximately 270 in Lombardy, 210 in Fabriano and 20 scattered across other sites.
Beko, Siena towards closure at the end of the year
Added to these are the redundancies in the factories: 312 in Cassinetta, 64 in Melano, 80 in Comunanza, 40 in Carinaro e 288 in Siena, a site that is scheduled to cease production at the end of the year and for which there is still no alternative solution. Overall, therefore, 1.284. Another issue is linked to any possible incentives to exodus, for which "we have not received an acceptable response", being "much lower than those agreed in the past", nor on social safety nets, "which we ask to be conservative with rotation mechanisms and in any case such as to truly exclude layoffs", conclude the social parties who confirm "that in order to truly be able to hypothesize an agreement it is necessary to resolve the decisive issues of the negotiation, starting with the Acquisition of the Siena site by the public".
Beko, the ministry: Siena is looking for a new investor
After the unions' note, it was the ministry to issue a press release to say that "the parties have examined the scope for a further reduction in redundancies in the office area, the introduction of new product lines and the start of a process aimed at guaranteeing a productive future for the Siena site, through the entry of a new investor“. The table was chaired by the undersecretary Fausta Bergamot and in the presence of the company's top management, and "was preceded by a meeting between the Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, and the trade unions".
“During the meeting – he continues – the company expressed its willingness to further reduce the redundancies related to the so-called 'White collars'. This would reduce overall redundancies to around 1.000, almost half the 1.935 originally forecast by the group in November. Beko Europe has also confirmed its intention to launch two projects for new premium products at the Cassinetta and Melano sites. The company has also highlighted that it has also identified a new product model for the Comunanza site, which will have to be defined within 3 months”.
“On the future of the Siena plant”, Undersecretary Bergamotto announced that “the Mimit, together with the company, has started a process to identify a new investor who will guarantee the production continuity of the site and the safeguarding of employment levels. The announcement follows the first meeting held yesterday at the Tuscan site between the delegates of Beko Europe, the company Sernet – advisor for reindustrialization – and the Municipality of Siena, to examine in depth technical aspects relating to the structure and equipment.
Beko, the ministry: discussion also with the Regions
Undersecretary Bergamotto, "accepting the requests of the unions, finally communicated that in the next few days she will start discussions with the Regions where Beko Europe's production sites are located - the note concludes -. The objective will be to explore the financial support tools to be activated, with particular attention to the support of research and development activities, in favor of the investments already announced by the multinational".
