Talks between Fiat and its major unions have stalled this afternoon (15 June) as one of the labour organisations meets to discuss the Italian manufacturer’s productivity deal.
Negotiations were slated to start with all four main unions at 14:00 (13:00 BST), but have been put back as an unidentified union’s general council meets to discuss Fiat’s offer, which could see more flexible working at its Pomigliano d’Arco plant.
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The parties are due to meet at the Italian Confederation of Industry in Rome today, but Fiat’s major union FIOM told just-auto from the building it was cooling its heels as a separate labour organisation’s general council met.
FIOM also claimed Fiat had adapted the text of its agreement with the unions, although a spokeswoman for the automaker declined to comment if this was the case.
“We are waiting for the beginning of this meeting which is important in many respects,” a FIOM spokesman told just-auto. “This could be the day the unions and the company sign the agreement.
“The company has said they will show us a new text. In the previous text there were some rules which are against union and workers’ rights but now the company has said they will show us a new text.”
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By GlobalDataThe spokesman added a new commission was also due to be established to resolve any future industrial disputes in a bid to halt “wildcat strikes.”
However, today’s discussions do not appear to have swayed FIOM in its determination to participate in an Italian general strike called for 25 June to protest against nationwide austerity measures.
The walkout will see possibly hundreds of thousands of workers downing tools for four hours, but FIOM said it would strike for eight hours.
