Cerved Credit Management Faces Worker Protests Over Job Cuts
Workers at Cerved Credit Management, a leading Italian provider of credit facts and services, are planning a major protest on December 19th, 2024, over concerns about widespread job losses and a controversial restructuring plan.The protest, organized by the FILCAMS CGIL, FISASCAT CISL, and UILTuCS trade union organizations, aims to pressure Cerved’s management to reconsider its plans.
The unions argue that Cerved’s proposed change into a technology platform will eliminate jobs and negatively impact employees and their families. ”Cerved’s top management intends to transform the Group… eliminating… also the professionalism, effectively dismissing and putting people and families at risk,” stated a union representative. The unions are notably concerned about the implementation of “Performance Advancement Plans” (PIPs), which they claim are being used to justify dismissals.
According to union reports, over 100 consultants have already been let go via email, effectively terminating their contracts. The remaining staff face PIPs with unilaterally set criteria and objectives,leaving little room for appeal. ”The assessments on the insufficiency of performances are unquestionable, and open the way for the personnel involved to asserted recovery paths unilaterally defined by the company, whose evaluation of success is decided by the company,” the union explained.
FISAC CGIL, a key player in the protest, will be actively involved in monitoring the situation at Cerved offices on December 19th.They will also hold a meeting with Cerved Credit Management workers to discuss the ongoing situation.”To counter these initiatives,on December 19th as FISAC CGIL we will participate in the monitoring initiatives at the Cerved offices and we will bring together the workers of Cerved Credit Management in a meeting,” the union announced.
The protest highlights growing concerns about job security within the European credit sector and raises questions about the potential impact of technological advancements on employment. While the protest is centered in Italy, it serves as a cautionary tale for similar industries globally, underscoring the importance of worker protections and fair labor practices.
December 17, 2024
Fisac Cgil Cerved Credit Management
Cerved Workers Brace for Protest Amid Job Cuts and Restructuring Fears
Annamaria Rossi, a labor economist specializing in European employment trends, joins us today to discuss the looming protest at Cerved credit Management in Italy.
WTN Senior Editor:**
Annamaria, thanks for joining us. This situation at Cerved,where we see planned worker protests aimed at stopping job cuts,seems to be raising a lot of concerns. Can you give us some context on what’s happening exactly?
Annamaria Rossi: Absolutely. Cerved Credit Management, a major Italian provider of credit information services, is undergoing a significant restructuring. They’re aiming to transition into a more technology-focused platform. Unluckily,this shift means many jobs are at risk. Unions are reporting over 100 consultants have already been let go,and many more fear they’ll be next.
WTN Senior Editor:
And it seems like the unions are pushing back hard against this.
annamaria Rossi: They certainly are. They’re especially concerned about the use of “Performance Advancement Plans,” or PIPs, which they believe are being used as a way to justify dismissals. The unions argue that staff are being given unrealistic targets and limited opportunities to improve their performance. Essentially, they see this as a tactic to force people out rather than a genuine attempt at performance management.
WTN Senior Editor:
This sounds very troubling. Are there broader implications here beyond just Cerved itself? Could this be a sign of things to come in other European industries?
Annamaria rossi: It’s definitely a worrying trend. We’re seeing increasing pressure on jobs in various sectors due to automation and digitization. The credit industry is particularly vulnerable because technological advancements are rapidly changing how credit risk is assessed and managed.What’s happening at Cerved highlights the urgent need for dialog between employers, governments, and unions to find solutions that protect workers while allowing companies to adapt to this changing landscape.
