Menarini, Spera (UGL Metalmeccanici): "The Campania Region is abandoning its workers."

Avellino – There's concern about the future of the Menarini plant in Valle Ufita (Avellino) and its Bologna plant. The company, Italy's only bus manufacturer, has been furloughed for two months, with over 500 workers, while the Campania Region has decided to purchase hundreds of vehicles from the Chinese company BYD.

Antonio Spera, national secretary of UGL Metalmeccanici, raised the alarm: "This is absurd. The only bus manufacturing company in Italy has been furloughed for two months, with over 500 workers, while the Campania Region has chosen to purchase hundreds of buses from the Chinese multinational BYD. This is an incomprehensible and extremely serious decision, which effectively leaves workers at the Menarini plant in Valle Ufita, in the province of Avellino, and at the Bologna plant without any prospects, penalizing a strategic sector for the national industry."

Spera recalls the sacrifices of the employees and the role of the entrepreneur Civitillo, who relaunched production in both the Italian and international markets: "We're talking about workers who have made enormous sacrifices over the years to build and consolidate a know-how that is fundamental to the country.

This path was also made possible thanks to the commitment of the entrepreneur Civitillo." Particularly harsh criticism was leveled at the new governor of Campania, who during the election campaign had visited the Flumeri plant, making specific commitments to the unions: "Furthermore, the behavior of the new governor of the Campania region, who, during the election campaign, had visited the Flumeri plant and made clear commitments to local trade unions to ensure production continuity, is astonishing.

Today, however, we learned of the intention to proceed with the purchase of buses produced abroad." National trade unions have already requested an urgent meeting with the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy to address the dispute and identify concrete solutions. "The Ministry of Business and Made in Italy must also do its part, intervening with the Regions to support domestic production and guide purchasing decisions toward Italian companies," Spera concludes.

Meanwhile, this morning, a joint demonstration by local trade unions is underway in front of the Avellino Prefecture, demonstrating the workers' deep concern for the future of the plant and the entire industry. The matter risks becoming a national issue: on the one hand, the protection of jobs and Italian expertise; on the other, the purchasing decisions of the Regions, which, according to the unions, must return to prioritizing Made-in-Italy production to safeguard jobs and a strategic sector for the country.