The Italian minister of economic development, Stefano Patuanelli, suspects that ArcelorMittal Italia’s recent conduct indicates, the company will exit from its Genoa and Taranto assets in the country.
In an interview with the Italian media on May 19, Patuanelli commented that major industrial delays to the resumption of operations had previously not been presented to the government and that recent “unjustified layoffs” for a further five weeks without a recovery plan all pointed to an exit strategy.
Patuanelli announced he had convened a meeting to address the current uncertainty with ArcelorMittal executives and trade unions for May 25. The Fiom-Cgil trade union had announced an “indefinite” strike at the company’s Novi Ligure facility from May 18.
Davis Index heard anecdotal evidence that the procession of Fiom-Cgil demonstrators joined fellow Fim-Fiom, Cisl and Uilm unions in blocking the gates to the loading and unloading bays. Interestingly, members of the road hauliers union were heard to have joined the strike in a sign of solidarity.
Disgruntled workers claim that the company’s strategy to operate the steel output at a minimum, shutdown of downstream plants and the lack of dialogue with the company has spurred them to take drastic action through an indefinite strike the bring ArcelorMittal to the table.