Fiat Chrysler in talks with unions for production
restart in Italy
Send a link to a friend
[April 08, 2020] By
Giulio Piovaccari
MILAN (Reuters) - Fiat Chrysler (FCA) <FCHA.MI>
and unions are discussing plans for beefed-up health measures at Italian
plants to pave the way for most profitable production to restart as soon
as the government eases a national lockdown, unions said on Wednesday.
An extension of a national lockdown due to expire on April 13 cannot be
ruled out, but recent coronavirus data allowed growing confidence that
the virus was on the retreat in Italy.
Measures proposed by FCA's unions include rearranging assembly layouts,
staggering shifts, and marking floors to ensure a one-meter distance is
kept between workers, FIM representative Raffaele Apetino said, adding
this would inevitably result in reduced production rates.
Other requests include testing workers' temperatures, providing safety
devices such as face masks, and sanitising premises during work hours,
Apetino added.
Unions also proposed moving meals to the end of shifts, allowing
employees to chose to avoid canteens, take away their food and leave
half an hour earlier without losing pay.
"FCA has showed great willingness to accept our proposals," Apetino
said, adding unions would hold a call with company representatives on
Thursday to prepare an agreement.
"Our aim is to sign it by the end of this week," he said. "We want be
ready to restart most profitable production just after Easter, if the
government allows it."
[to top of second column] |
New Fiat Panda and Fiat 500 mild-hybrid cars are seen in piazza
Maggiore, in Bologna, Italy, February 4, 2020. REUTERS/Flavio Lo
Scalzo
UILM union representative Gianluca Ficco said similar requests were also made to
Ferrari <RACE.MI>, CNH Industrial <CNHI.MI> and car parts maker Marelli. "The
lockdown can't go on forever, Italy must give itself a target to match jobs and
security," he said.
FCA last month introduced a first package of extraordinary measures in its
Italian plants, but eventually had to close them after Rome in mid-March decided
to freeze all manufacturing activities deemed non essential.
The automaker has told unions it aimed to restart operations at three Italian
sites as soon as the government lifts its toughest coronavirus restrictions.
These would be the assembly lines for Jeep's Compass and new hybrid models at
Melfi in southern Italy; Atessa's plant making light commercial vehicles in
central Italy; and preparatory work for the new electric 500 in Turin's
Mirafiori factory.
That would initially involve less than 10,000 workers out of 55,000 in Italy.
FCA did not comment on measures being prepared but a spokesman said: "As always
workers' health and security were the top priority for the company".
(Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari; Editing by David Holmes)
[© 2020 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2020 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |