The Ufita Valley stands in support of the struggle of the workers of the Italian Bus Industry but also to reclaim the dignity of an increasingly marginalized territory headed towards depopulation. «They are undermining our foundations says Uil secretary Luigi Simeone. They don’t allow us to be born and grow old: they have decided on demographic desertification.” Around five hundred workers, students, administrators and citizens march through the streets of Grottaminarda shouting slogans against the Government and against the Seri group, which is said to be about to purchase the only Italian bus production company.
«All on foot: the Government abandons the Italian Bus Industry» is the banner of the workers of the Valle Ufita plant who open the procession together with the union representatives. Just behind a large presence of local administrators, ready to ask for respect for the communities of the area and to embrace the battles of the social partners for the relaunch of the Italian Bus Industry, the protection of the university center of nursing sciences, the creation of the logistics platform, the guarantee of adequate public health.
Dozens of mayors were present, from Grottaminarda to Flumeri, Mirabella, Melito, Bonito, Fontanarosa, Savignano, Sturno, Castel Baronia, San Nicola Baronia, Carife, Vallata, Scampitella, Taurasi and Villanova. There are the deputy mayor of Ariano and the councilor of the municipality of Vallesaccarda. There is the candidate for the office of mayor of Avellino Antonio Gengaro. The procession is noisy but peaceful, testifying to the dignity of a territory, which some demonstrators shout out loudly after sitting on the asphalt a few dozen meters from the motorway toll booth.
The workers of the Italian Bus Industry receive the solidarity of the communities in the area, ready not only to take to the streets but also to fight to guarantee the protection of a company that represents, above all, hope. “Without the Valle Ufita factory, former MP Generoso Maraia is categorical, the creation of a logistics platform cannot be justified.” Maraia has prepared the text of a complaint to the Prosecutor’s Office to ask for clarity on the sale to the Seri group which administrators and unions are sharing.
«A political murder has taken place, he says, causing over-indebtedness to justify the possibility of going into liquidation».
The unions lash out against the Campania Region: none of the councilors elected in the province are present in Grottaminarda with the exception of Vincenzo Ciampi of the Five Star Movement.
«The Region – says the secretary of the CGIL Franco Fiordellisi – has not ensured worthy and adequate responses as the Emilia Romagna Region has done. This is why we want to be listened to from below: the territory must be valorised.”
«We are faced with a deaf Government, adds Simeone, but we must influence the Region: we cannot continue to be the outskirts of Salerno. The regional councilors need a hand, they can’t make themselves heard.”
The unions have prepared an agenda to be voted on in the municipal councils, to claim the territory belongs to the people who live there, who want to remain in these areas. Administrators are ready to do their part.
«The Italian Bus Industry – says the mayor of Grottaminarda Marcantonio Spera – will be the symbol of rebirth alongside the logistics platform and the high capacity station».
Flumeri’s colleague Angelo Lanza relaunches the accusations against the Region and underlines the concern for the risk of “seeing the best land in a SEZ area taken away from us”. «Loneliness says the deputy mayor of Ariano Grazia Vallone – we must overcome it with unity. The South is not on this Government’s political agenda, they are abandoning us.”
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