The anti-crisis plan of Fincantieri, one of the most important Italian companies at an international level in the shipbuilding sector, is much heavier than expected. Out of a total of approximately 8.500 workers, 2.551 redundancies are expected. Three of the eight establishments will close their doors. These are the Castellammare di Stabia, Sestri Ponente and Riva Trigoso plants.
This was announced by the company's managing director, Giuseppe Bono, during this afternoon's meeting with Fiom, Fim and Uilm at the Rome headquarters of Confindustria. This was reported in a note by Uilm released at the end of the summit. Around a hundred workers from the Castellamare di Stabia site and some associated companies were present in front of the meeting venue.
In recent days, the shareholder Fintecna had sent a document in which Fincantieri's objective appeared to be different. There was talk of a negotiation with the unions for 1.500 redundancies and the closure of the Sestri Ponente plant for three years.
"Like Uilm we have argued that we cannot accept a plan in which the solution for the relaunch of Fincantieri passes through the reduction of the group's sites and its consequent reduction in employment". This was stated in a note by Mario Ghini, Uilm national secretary and manager of the shipbuilding sector.
According to the trade unionist, "it is necessary to safeguard an industrial group that has always drawn its strength from the integration of production and the uniqueness of the company, for this reason we are open to a path that makes Fincantieri more competitive on the markets, more efficient on the product but at the same time the employment structure and all the Group's industrial sites must be safeguarded".
Ghini concludes by arguing that it is necessary "to resume discussions with the Ministry of Economic Development, because the Government must also do its part to safeguard the largest national shipbuilding group".
Fincantieri's plan is motivated by the crisis that has hit the sector globally. The company explains that after the peak in 2007 (85,9 million tons), in 2009 production fell to 38,9 million tons, following a contraction in world demand of 55%.
Tension is skyrocketing in the demonstration in Genoa, where 500 workers are protesting in front of the prefecture. According to Reuters, three demonstrators were injured.
Meanwhile, the Government, urged by the unions, has convened the parties for next June 3rd. On the agenda is the industrial reorganization plan announced by the company.
