An Italian union is calling for any replacement work at Fiat’s Termini Imerese plant in Sicily to concentrate totally on automobile production.
Late this evening (14 February), the Italian government is scheduled to hold talks in Rome with several unions to discuss plans for the Sicilian plant that Fiat wants to close at the end of this year.
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A spokeswoman for the economic development ministry told just-auto today seven companies could take over the Termini Imerese site, helped by national and Sicilian government grants of EUR450m (US$607m), but the hardline FIOM union is calling for 100% car production to remain.
“We are sceptical about the proposals, we would like 100% car production in Termini Imerese,” a FIOM spokesman in Italy told just-auto.
“In any case some economic activity which could be affordable, not a lot of little companies, this is not the affordable solution.”
The FIOM spokesman claimed tonight’s meeting in the Italian capital, at which it will be represented by its Confederation, was indicitive of a “show” that left it difficult to be confident of the future.
“This government we have today in Italy is very interested to build a show,” said the FIOM spokesman. “It will call the unions to a meeting and they will say we are looking for a solution, that everything is going in the best way.
“Until now, we have not seen anything concrete about the solution. Our idea [is] a new company could take place to produce cars, but this does not seem to be in future of Termini Imerese.”
Earlier today, the economic development ministry spokeswoman told just-auto two of the seven proposed companies were automakers, namely luxury car producer Rossignorlo and electric car firm Cimino.
Secretary generals of both FIOM and FIOM Palermo Maurizio Landini and Roberto Mastrosimone also jointly added today: “We are not willing to accept the simple closure and the withdrawal of Fiat in Termini Imerese.”
