Former Ilva, government-union meeting at Palazzo Chigi

Former Ilva, government-union meeting at Palazzo Chigi.

The discussion table between the Government and trade union confederations on 'ex Ilva of Taranto.

The Government has assured the workers' representatives of the maximum commitment to guarantee production continuity, examining the hypotheses in the field to avoid the use of extraordinary administration. "To this end, the Government has already scheduled a meeting with the majority shareholder for January 8th, who will be asked for precise guarantees on investments, production levels, worker safety, plant protection and environmental protection. The Government will continue to keep the unions constantly informed, who will be called again after the meeting with the shareholder", says a note released by Chigi.

The meeting was attended by the Minister for European Affairs, the South, cohesion policies and the Pnrr on behalf of the Government Raffaele Fitto, the Minister of Business and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso and the Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council Alfredo Mantovano. The Minister of Labor and Social Policies was present via video link Marina Calderone. Representatives of Fiom Cgil were present for the unions Michael DePalma, Fim-Cisl Robert Benaglia, Uilm-Uil Rocco Palombella, Usb Francesco Rizzo and Ugl metalworkers Giovanni Antonio Spera.

"It couldn't have gone worse than this", according to the secretary of Uilm, Rocco Palombella, which he said was ready to «fight to the end», without excluding any type of initiative, to avoid continuing to have Acciaierie d'Italia managed by ArcelorMittal and a closure that would represent "an unprecedented disaster". Even the head of Fiom, Michael DePalma, and the national coordinator for the steel industry, Loris Scarpa, they stated that the situation is "one step away from the clash", explaining that three hypotheses would be put forward during the meeting.

In the first hypothesis Arcelor Mittal finally agrees to invest; in the second the multinational declares to agree to go out; and in the third there is no possible agreement and therefore extraordinary administration. None of these paths, according to De Palma, would respond to the unions' request for an increase in public capital. The concern is shared by the secretary of the Fim Cisl, Roberto Benaglia, ready to evaluate with Fiom and Uilm further forms of mobilization following the meeting that the government will hold with the unions after seeing Mittal, on 9 or 10 January.