Eight-hour strike for Stellantis and the entire automotive sector on October 18. With demonstration in Rome. The union representatives of Fim, Fiom and Uilm announced the agitation, speaking of a “very serious situation” and demanding “responses from the EU, the Government, Stellantis and the component companies”. The unions are taking action “to defend jobs and build the future of the automotive industry”.
“Faced with the dramatic situation that Stellantis employees and the entire automotive supply chain have been experiencing for some time now, with production at an all-time low, record layoffs, the departure of Stellantis and total political confusion at national and European level, we have not been able to stand still,” said Rocco Palombella, Uilm’s general secretary. “We will use every means of war to prevent this dangerous drift, this perfect storm. This is a historic strike that has not happened in the former Fiat in Italy for more than forty years. Now it is the politicians’ and workers’ turn to make decisions. Let their voices be heard.”
Call to EU and Italian government: “More resources for the automotive sector”
The unions are turning to the government, which “must make public resources available in conjunction with a firm commitment from companies to maintain employment. Resources should not be limited to incentives to buy cars in 2024, among other things. It has not benefited production in the country.”
The European Commission must also allocate “all the resources necessary to support the decisions taken to protect an industrial sector”, the unions explained at the press conference. The Union must give more power to technological change, accompanying this change with serious and determined employment. Training actions, social safety nets during the employment relationship and strong support for the reduction of working hours, a protection plan that does not exclude the prevention of layoffs through transitions against work and enormous social costs.
“Stellantis production fell by 36%”
As for Stellantis, the industrial plan “will need to include production missions sufficient to feed all factories, as well as investments in research units and, more generally, in central units. This is even more so now, when the situation is very critical and can be expanded even further.” To summarize with a few clear elements: 36% fewer cars were produced in the first half of the year compared to the same period last year”.
“The situation is critical across Europe and China is defending the sector with strong investments”
The unions are not against electric cars, but they are demanding more public resources to manage the transition. “It is not enough to say ‘sorry for joking’ about electricity, let’s go back to endothermic. Now we just need to discuss specific steps on how to get to this point towards the energy transition,” stressed Ferdinando Uliano, Secretary General of Fim Cisl. “There are certain steps that force car manufacturers to pay fines if they continue to produce polluting cars.”
The social partners argue that the situation is critical across Europe: “The dramatic news from Germany and Belgium, starting with the Volkswagen Group, risks creating an earthquake for the entire automotive industry on the continent, while the US and China defend the sector. Given that the sector represents 11% of Italy’s GDP, urgent EU interventions in the sector’s strategic choices and the Government’s targeted industrial policies are vital, serious and bold. Industrial commitments from Stellantis and its component companies.”
Source: Today IT
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.
