(Finance) – Safeguard steel production in Italy and the fate of around 20 thousand workers (over 10 thousand direct employees and around the same number in related industries). With this objective i general secretaries of the metalworking unions of CGIL, CISL and UIL they have returned to asking the Government to take majority control of Steel mills of Italy (currently 38% in the hands of Invitalia and 62% by ArcelorMittal). The appeal addressed to the executive by Fiom, Fim and Uilm is to present, at the meeting scheduled for December 20th with the unions on the former Ilva which will precede the Shareholders’ Meeting scheduled for the 22nd by the company after three unsuccessful meetings, a definitive solution on the dispute over the steelworks which would otherwise not they will move from Palazzo Chigi.
As indicated by theCEO Lucia Morselli in a previous Board of Directors, the serious financial crisis requires a emergency recapitalization of at least 320 million euros to pay for the gas supply and meet the most immediate needs. In the last meeting ArcelorMittal – which does not intend, as far as we have learned, to participate pro rata in the recapitalization – has presented a memorandum in which, in addition to highlighting the investments guaranteed during the management of the former Ilva, it complains about the alleged failure of the public partner with respect to the commitments signed through the shareholders’ agreements.
“On December 20th there is an answer that gives guarantees regarding the rise of the public shareholder in Acciaierie d’Italia with an element of guarantee for workers and production – said the number one of Fiom-Cgil, Michele De Palma – or we won’t go away. On the 20th we ask for definitive answers. If they are not there we will remain in front of Palazzo Chigi. The time for technical confrontation is over, a political decision is needed. The only possible solution is management by the public.”
“These are the decisive days – added the general secretary of the Fim-Cisl, Roberto Benaglia – Acciaierie d’Italia is heading towards consumption, it is working less and less. Either the conditions for the rescue of Acciaierie d’Italia will be created on the 20th or we will not witness the closure and end of this great plant hand in hand. The first step is to take control of the company, then put in new and capable managers, the third to put in the resources with the aim of reopening lines and blast furnaces.”
“On the 20th the Government must tell us – warned the leader of Uilm, Rocco Palombella – what is the proposal they have to safeguard 20 thousand jobs, the environment and steel production. They can’t keep stalling. The private partner must leave or at least remain in the minority. The state must assume the majority. With each passing day the situation is more complicated. There is a disastrous situation that we can no longer tolerate, the workers can no longer tolerate. If there is negative news on the 20th, we will not stand still.”