From Ilva to IIA, the industrial crises that are never resolved

The situation of former Ilva of Taranto, transformed into Acciaierie d’Italia, is just the tip of the iceberg. The list of industrial crises in the country that has been going on for some time is very long and, month after month, more names are added than those that are removed. Some disputes have now become gangrenous, for others there is a way out, even if jobs have been lost along the way.

Names that entered the daily news due to strikes and pickets, such as the Industria Italiana Bus between Bologna and Avellino, the Gkn of Florence, the Portovesme of Cagliari, the Wärtsilä of Trieste, the Lear of Grugliasco or the Bosch of Bari. Even a historic lingerie brand, like The Pearlended up in the shallows due to financial speculation.

The number of affected workers is also increasing. For these families, from one day to the next, words such as layoffs, solidarity contracts and mobility enter the daily lexicon. The census is carried out by the CGIL, based on the tables at the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy.

A situation resulting from Italy’s difficulty in attracting foreign investments. According to the latest analysis EY in Italy after Covid the number of projects increased. The country is in seventh position. However, the market share held by Italy remains almost stable at 4%despite being the fourth largest European economy Germany, United Kingdom and Francewhich they hold instead respectively 14%, 16% and the 21% of foreign direct investment.

The census of the crisis

A list that is updated periodically. Today there are almost 180 thousand workers affected by industrial crises, just under half a million people, from North to South, if we consider the families involved. There are over 60 tables at the ministry, including those monitored. “Numbers that put us in a position to refute the claims of those who confuse propaganda with reality and which strengthen the reasons for our protests”, dice the confederal secretary of the CGIL, Pino Gesmundo.

The regional tables must be added, «over 18 thousand people involved in Veneto alone – says Gesmundo – improving the ability to attract investments would perhaps make the picture more positive».

The last tables

From January to today, other tables have been opened at the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy led by Adolfo Urso, for a total of 1,867 new workers from companies in crisis. The only employees involved in ministerial tables are 59.893. Among the latest companies to enter into crisis is the Vibac, which produces adhesive films and tapes. Two factories at risk: Termoli and Potenza. Then the Denso of San Salvo, in the province of Chieti, as well as the Baomarc, also in the province of Chieti, in Lanciano. Both are from the automotive sector. Don’t forget the Unilever of Pozzilli, province of Isernia, which is in the chemical sector, and the Siae Microelectronics of Cologno, in the province of Monza, 160 employees at risk due to relocation to China.

The Transitions

Others must then be considered 121 thousand people working in PR companiesese with a complex transition. Companies concentrated mainly in‘car armaturewhere 70 thousand workers are in danger, and in siderurgia, another 25 thousand at risk. Not to mention the sectors that do not appear to be in difficulty, such as energy, where 8 thousand people are employed in coal-fired power plants which are about to closeas also confirmed by the government’s Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, at the G7 Climate meeting.

Even steps that do not seem critical, like the end of the protected market, could cause haemorrhages: 2,000 jobs at risk. Another 4,000 in basic chemicals, almost 3,500 in petrochemicals and then 8,500 in telecommunications. This last sector is being reorganised, as demonstrated by the Swisscom operation in March: acquiring Vodafone Italia to marry Fastweb. Or the separation of the network from Tim, directed by the Meloni government, thanks to the American fund KKR.

The cases

For Ilva the paradox is that we have reached the point of administration, necessary to put the Indians of ArcelorMittal out of business, and now we are looking for a new partner, while for the employees, 10,500 employees of which 8,200 in Taranto, a more massive use of layoffs is expected, for now 2,500 of which 2,250 in Tarantoawaiting the relaunch with the return to 6 million tons of steel produced.

2024 could be the black year with production at 1 million 300 thousand. From mid-May the “pilgrimage” to Taranto of the interested groups will begin: the Ukrainian Montivest, the Italian Arvedi, the Indians Jindal and Mont Steel, the Vulcan Steel Group. The new partner will come out from here.

Workers of the Italian Bus Industryformer Irisbus and former Menarini, instead look with fear at the offer presented by Seri Industrial, a group of the Civitillo brothers active in the car battery sector, to Leonardo and Invitalia. A crisis that has been going on for years, despite a product, the bus, in full transition towards electric and linked to tenders for the fleets of public transport companies of Municipalities and Regions. There would be no shortage of orders. For the employees, 500, Seri’s plan is not reliable for the factories in Bologna and Flumeri, in the province of Avellino, it is better to look at the offer made by the consortium Groups-Lineage. But Urso’s ministry doesn’t consider it.

An investment of around 100 million for the plant Wartsilä di Trieste: the plan provides for it Msc has developed to reindustrialise the site where over 400 workers worked on marine engines. Factory that the Helsinki multinational has closed. In Trieste, railway wagons and trolleys will be produced, as well as maintained, providing work for more than 300 people. Even the story Marelli of Crevalcore, a multinational of the KKR fund, will have a happy ending. The Novara native Technomechanics has been awarded the site and has prepared a plan to relaunch the Bolognese factory: the objective is to enter in June and save more than 150 jobs.