Fiat’s major union at its Grugliasco plant appears to be riven with disagreement concerning a new deal that has pitted shop stewards against the top management.
The Italian automaker warmly welcomed the decision by the vast majority of its workers to accept a plan for its Officine Automobilistiche Grugliasco plant – although the major labour body FIOM appears to have severe internal differences concerning the proposal.
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All four labour bodies at the former Bertone plant have inked the deal – FIM, UILM, FISMIC and even hard-line FIOM – although only the latter’s shop stewards have put pen to paper.
Fiat issued a statement welcoming the outcome of the referendum that saw 886 or 90% of the 1,090 workers vote in favour of the deal, which should pave the way for application of the national collective agreement, already
in place for the plants in Pomigliano d’Arco and Mirafiori.
“Fiat confirms that, once an agreement has been signed and the necessary conditions are in place, it will proceed with the investment programme detailed in the plan,” said the automaker’s statement.
However, there appears to be significant tension at the heart of the FIOM leadership, with its shop stewards signing the deal, but not its top brass, including the general secretary.
“FIOM itself will not sign the agreement because the official position is that the Fiat position is unacceptable,” a FIOM spokesman in Italy told just-auto.
“Fiat understands those who did sign the agreement are members of our organisation – maybe that is very Italian, maybe Mediterranean, but that is the story.”
Conceding the situation was “unusual,” the FIOM spokesman said there would be a major meeting of the union in Rome next Monday (9 May) to discuss the development.
“There is a big decision inside FIOM,” said the spokesman. “Some people think to allow the shop stewards to sign was a mistake, other members that the organisation should consider the agreement.”
