Thousands of Fiat workers who fear for their jobs at the struggling Italian group went on strike on Friday and held a demonstration in Rome, according to the Associated Press (AP).
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The news agency said the eight-hour strike was called at Fiat plants across the country.
Citing Italian news agency Apcom, the report said the protest in Rome drew as many as 10,000 people and disrupted traffic in the capital’s centre.
AP said the company’s turnaround plan – which includes focusing on the core automaking business – does not involve plant closures but Fiat regularly uses temporary layoffs to cut production at its plants in line with demand, and the the workers are protesting that policy, fearing it might eventually lead to job losses.
The workers also demand that Fiat invest more in technology to develop new models, increase its market share, and eventually safeguard its labour force, the Associated Press added.
