A day of strike action and demonstrations took place today in front of the Harmont & Blaine plant in Caivano, where workers are protesting the announcement of 32 layoffs out of a total workforce of 129. The protest was called by the sector unions Filctem-Cgil and Femca-Cisl, who described it as a sudden decision, lacking any prior consultation.
"We called this strike because we find the layoffs announced by the company unacceptable," says Andrea Pastore of the regional secretariat of Filctem Campania. "We consider it abnormal that a decision of this magnitude could be made overnight, without any consultation with the unions. A company with an international media profile cannot be so superficial in the presence of 32 workers, who represent 25% of the workforce. This is an unacceptable attempt to reduce labor costs. We demand the immediate withdrawal of the layoffs."
The joint statement from the unions and the RSU was also very harsh, describing a company that "has deliberately chosen to shift the burden of its industrial and management decisions onto its workers, ignoring the dramatic employment, economic, and social impact this procedure has." They called this decision "serious and socially irresponsible," capable of compromising labor relations and sparking "a dispute of serious and inevitable conflict."
The unions call for "the opening of a genuine, serious, and binding dialogue, aimed exclusively at protecting employment levels and the rights of workers," and warn that, in the absence of concrete responses, the mobilization is destined to continue. "The RSU and the trade unions hereby declare their willingness to intensify and continue the struggle, without excluding any means, until the dismissal proceedings are completely withdrawn."
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (1)
Reading this article, it seems like the situation is very complex and difficult for workers. Layoffs are always a serious matter, and it would be best if companies spoke more with the unions before making such drastic decisions.