Former Ilva: 2,500 collective redundancies set to take place in subcontracting and related companies

With regard to the shutdown of the steelworks’ hot section following the ruling of the Milan Court of Appeal – a ruling against which Ilva and Acciaierie d’Italia have lodged an appeal with the Court of Cassation, as well as filed a motion for a stay of proceedings with the Court of Appeal itself – Aigi maintains that “this outcome is not taking place within the context of a restructuring plan that is already in operation, nor with new factories already built or with thousands of workers being supported in finding new jobs, but through a mere ninety-day countdown”.

“We wish to make it clear,” says Convertino, “that it is not our intention to glorify Ilva, nor to forget the harm this industry has inflicted on the city, the environment and the local population in years gone by. We are aware of that history, but it belongs, precisely, to the past. Today, Ilva – as highlighted in the letter to the trade unions – is no longer what it was ten years ago: it is a factory that has benefited from millions of euros of investment in pollution-reduction facilities. We entrepreneurs know what it means to make redundancies.”

“As things stand – Convertino adds – there are still no alternatives. We are being told that Taranto will host new industries, that investment will come in and that new businesses will be set up. We hope this will be the case and we are ready to work together to make it happen. However, as businesspeople, we know the difference between a concrete investment and a declaration of intent. An expression of interest does not constitute a factory, it is not a warehouse, and it does not represent a job. It may become one, perhaps, in at least 7 or 10 years’ time, in the most optimistic scenario. Until there are approved projects, allocated funds, construction sites open, binding timetables and planned recruitment, these alternatives will remain mere possibilities.”

According to Aigi, “letting an industrial giant die is not the same as making it disappear, and all those who call for the factory to be ‘simply shut down’ must be aware of this”. Finally, there is a significant and even more dangerous threat: that of having led an entire generation of workers to believe they can carry on until the end of their careers by relying solely on social safety nets, the early retirement scheme and asbestos-related benefits. This is a welfare-dependent mindset that stifles the region’s future, and one that we cannot condone in the slightest.”

Meanwhile, regarding the impact on employment that the shutdown of the hot section of the former Ilva site (steelworks and blast furnaces) may have on contractors and related industries, the metalworkers’ unions Fim, Fiom, Uilm and Usb have requested an “urgent” meeting with representatives of these companies. The request has been forwarded to Confindustria Taranto, Confapi Taranto and Aigi.

The meeting, as stated in the request, is intended to “analyse the critical issues that have arisen within the procurement and ancillary services system of Acciaierie d’Italia in A.S. following the decree of the Milan Court of Appeal ordering the suspension of operations in the hot works area at the Taranto plant within 90 days”.

“Ahead of the meeting at Palazzo Chigi scheduled for 8 September, and the court hearing scheduled for 9 September, at which the application for a stay will be discussed, “we believe it is necessary,” say the trade unions, “to initiate discussions with the employers’ organisations in order to secure a future for the workers and for the contracting companies themselves”. Finally – the trade unions write – “it is important to note that among the issues relating to industrial, employment and environmental prospects brought to the attention of the Government, and therefore to the meeting to be held at Palazzo Chigi, is also the matter of the contract”.

Finally, there will be three meetings held by the Government at Palazzo Chigi on the afternoon of 8 September concerning the former Ilva site and Taranto: the first will be with Apulian and local institutions, followed by national business, craft and cooperative associations, and concluding with the trade unions Fim, Fiom, Uilm, Usb, Ugl and Federmanager, representing company executives.