Fiat CEO, Sergio Marchionne, has rejected out of hand any chance the automaker will negotiate with renegade Italian union, FIOM, following the labour body’s rejection of the automaker’s more flexible productivity plan.
Italy is twitchingly eying the travails of fellow Mediterranean country Spain as it struggles with its own complex set of financial challenges that are seeing Rome attempting to trim the catastrophically high debt, thought to be around EUR1.3 trillion (US$16.4 trillion), with labour relations a key part of its reformist agenda.
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Marchionne has long been at loggerheads with FIOM – by far the most notoriously hard line labour body at heavily unionised Fiat – but he is pulling no punches by refusing even to discuss the union’s outright rejection of the recent settlement agreed by fellow labour bodies.
That deal saw Fiat reach agreement with most of its unions for more flexibility in productivity in exchange for a pay rise and bonus.
“We have no reason to sit down with FIOM – there is nothing to discuss,” Marchionne told just-auto last night in Brussels at the conclusion of the CARS 21 automotive conference in the Belgian capital.
“Life goes on. I am happy with the people who have signed the agreement. I am happy [with] the minority that lost the vote and continue to insist they have a right to represent people.” It is like losing the election and trying to win again.”
Warming to the labour body theme, European Commission vice president, Antonio Tajani, who was also present at the CARS 21 conference, said unions were behind the automotive grouping’s efforts to aid the sector.
“Unions work very well with us – the unions approved the final text of CARS 21,” he told just-auto.
“They want to work with us.”
