Jabil Marcianise, 10-day layoff pending transfer

Marcianise – The Jabil plant in Marcianise, owned by the American multinational electronics company, will suspend operations from next Monday until August 8th for technical updates related to the site's divestment plan, announced last March.

The decision, communicated by company management to the union representatives, marks a concrete step toward the transfer of the plant, which employs 406 people, to the newly formed TMA, a company owned by TME of Portico di Caserta and Invitalia, the agency of the Ministry of Economy.

The move was endorsed by the government and the Campania Region, but was strongly contested by workers, who feared for job security. In recent months, employees have staged protests in Naples, in front of the Campania Region and the U.S. Consulate, and in Caserta, Marcianise, and Rome, at the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy, but were unsuccessful in persuading Jabil to reverse its decision.

The multinational also initiated a collective dismissal procedure, which was allowed to lapse without sending the dismissal letters, a clear signal of its intention to proceed with the unilateral sale. During the shutdown, necessary to update the systems, only essential personnel will be involved, while other workers will be forced to take leave, a circumstance that is fueling discontent.

"Jabil treats us like objects," complains one employee, reflecting the climate of frustration. The sale date, expected in December, has not yet been set: "It will be announced once the bureaucratic procedures are completed," the company specifies.

The union representatives, in a statement, reiterated their opposition: "This sale devalues the site and does not guarantee a stable future for the workers. We have told the government, the ministry, and the region: Jabil must not abandon Marcianise. The production shutdown cannot be a burden on the employees. We are warning management and will not stand by and watch this devastation." Tensions remain high, while the fate of the plant and its workers hangs in the balance.