A defense of the Fiat strategy to get out of the crisis entrusted not only to words but to eloquent numbers: in 2011 the combination of Fiat and Fiat Industrial will record an operating result higher than that achieved by the Group in 2008, which was then the highest never achieved in over 100 years of company history. Despite the decline in the market, especially in Italy, Fiat, thanks also to Chrysler's contribution for seven months, was able to keep its income statement in order, which is the indispensable basis without which no future can be built.
This is the fundamental message that emerges from Marchionne's speech at the Confindustria conference in Turin dedicated to the future of the manufacturing industry, during which he met and embraced President Marcegaglia with affection.
Marchionne made a long and complex speech in which he retraced the history of Fiat over the past seven years, claiming the coherence of what has been said and done throughout this time. In the first place, he strongly contested all those who say that Fiat wants to leave Italy.
"Fabbrica Italia was a declaration of intent, launched on our initiative and not due to it, demonstrating Fiat's commitment to this country". Thus Marchionne forcefully reiterated, rejecting the controversies of those who seek to accredit ulterior motives on the part of Fiat. “The anti-Italians are those who do not want to take note of the changes in the world around us, those who waste time discussing and postponing problems, who do not assume the responsibility to act and change things.”
Even with regard to Consob's informal request for details on the Plan for Italy, Marchionne said he was amazed that a communication that should have remained confidential had such a large echo in the press. He therefore did not respond directly to Consob, but in other passages he made it clear that nowhere in the world are companies asked for details that must remain confidential also because in a period of great uncertainty the plans and models to be produced are continually updated.
As for the relationship with the trade unions and in particular with FIOM, Marchionne recalled that even in the toughest period of the crisis, Fiat never reported structural surpluses, did not make any layoffs, but tried to manage the situation with social safety nets a factory activity. Not only that but it has saved many related companies for almost 10 thousand people. Therefore, according to Marchionne, all of Fiat's actions demonstrate that Fiat's intention is to safeguard jobs in Italy. The attitude of FIOM in the opinion of the CEO of Fiat is only instrumental, ideological and defensive of its minority positions. For this we risk a real tyranny of a few to the detriment of the majority which instead democratically voted to accept the challenge of the new which entails a necessary increase in competitiveness.
Both Tronchetti and Passera agreed on the fact that innovation also in industrial relations is possible with some unions more open to change. In the end, everyone wanted to conclude with a message of hope, if not exactly optimism. “We know that the world is watching us – Marchionne said – and often doesn't like what it sees.” However the world is testing us and it is precisely in difficult moments that we have to bring out the best in ourselves.
