Former Ilva revolt erupts at northern plants: occupation, demonstrations, and traffic disruptions in Genoa. "A thousand jobs at risk: it's the end of the Italian steel industry."

The workers' meeting at the former Ilva plant in Genoa lasted only a few minutes. Then the decision was reached unanimously: occupy the factory, start a permanent garrison and take to the streets immediately. This opens a new phase of mobilization against the government's plan which, according to the unions, would lead to the closure of plants in the North and an increase in extraordinary redundancy fund for up to 6.000 units.

Procession towards Cornigliano and traffic blockade

The morning quickly turned into an all-out protest. Workers, aboard construction vehicles, left the factory gates and headed to Guido Rossa Street, where traffic was completely blocked. The march then reached the square in front of Genoa's Cornigliano train station, where workers set up a gazebo to coordinate the mobilization.

According to the unions, There are a thousand jobs at risk in Genoa alone."With the government's announcement," complains Nicola Apicella, coordinator of the Fiom-Cgil union, "little steel is being produced in Taranto, and what little is being sold there to raise funds. Obviously, the plants in the North, Genoa first and foremost, then Novi Ligure, etc., will no longer have any product to process and will therefore close. This means that a thousand jobs will be lost in Genoa."

"The Italian steel industry is closing": the unions raise the alarm.

The union front is united and speaks of an unprecedented crisis. "It's no longer a question of a few more or fewer laid-off workers," says Apicella. "The Italian steel industry is closing down."

He echoes it Armando Palombo, historic Fiom delegate of the former Ilva of Cornigliano, together with Stefano Bonazzi, General Secretary of the FIOM-CGIL Genoa: "From January 1st, six thousand workers nationwide will be on furlough, and from March 1st, all factories will close. We urge local authorities not to remain silent and to take action to oppose the government's decision and prevent the closure of Cornigliano."

Discontent erupted after the failed meeting at Palazzo Chigi, where the unions had hoped the government would back down. The outcome was instead described as "dramatic."

The government's response: "No increase in unemployment benefits, we're investing in training."

The Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy replies to the accusations, Adolfo Urso, which rejects the unions' claims en masse. "We have clearly stated that there will be no increase in redundancy payments, but rather a significant investment in training, with the intention of focusing resources on plant maintenance for the greater protection, as is right, of our workers. At the same time, they will be required to attend training courses to be better prepared, including professionally, for the new green technologies that are planned to be installed," the minister stated.

The government insists: no closures are planned, dialogue with trade unions remains open, and the declared priority is "the centrality of work."

The position of the Acciaierie d'Italia commissioners: "No increase in redundancy pay."

A note from the extraordinary commissioners of Acciaierie d'Italia reiterates the government's position: no increase in CIG beyond the current ones 4.450 unit; the 1.550 workers the ones that were talked about would not be destined for the redundancy fund, but for a training and requalification path di 93.000 hours of training, equivalent to full-fledged work presence.

The commissioners ask for "reassurances to be given to all staff" and deny any reconstruction that speaks of further use of the CIG.

Palombella (Uilm): "It's a death plan; everything will shut down starting March 1st."

The reassurances do not convince the unions. The general secretary of the Uilm, Rocco Palombella, is very harsh: "It's a death plan. From March 1st, all the factories will close. They told us clearly that they will not withdraw the plan. We are at the end of the line."

Palombella explains that the government's proposal for the 1.550 workers is "incomprehensible," because it's unclear what future there might be if the plants remain closed. "We will respond with strikes and demonstrations. The workers aren't engaging in violence; they're defending their jobs."

Final rupture: 24-hour strike and permanent sit-ins

The confrontation broke down abruptly on November 18. The unions proclaimed the general strike of 24 hours and extraordinary meetings in all factories.

In Genoa, the protest quickly took shape: an occupation of the plant; a demonstration with construction vehicles; a blockade of Via Guido Rossa; and a permanent picket at the Cornigliano station.

The workers are now awaiting the mobilization of Novi Ligure and other Italian plants.

Future scenarios: thousands of jobs at risk

Tensions remain high. Three crucial issues remain on the table:the future of the 6.000 workers expected to be on redundancy fund according to the unions,closing of the plants in the North, which the Government denies, but which workers' representatives consider imminent and the decarbonisation process, which will take years and which, if not accompanied by investments and solid industrial policies, risks definitively emptying the Italian steel industry.

The battle over the former Ilva steelworks thus returns to the center of national debate, with Genoa at the forefront of efforts to avoid what the unions bluntly define as "an unprecedented social and industrial disaster."