Third wave of layoffs at the Stellantis Europe Atessa plant (Chieti) announced yesterday by the company management to the trade unions during a meeting for a joint examination of the situation, requested by Fim and Uilm, due to the continuing decline in demand for cab vehicles.
Stellantis has thus communicated a further two weeks of layoffs for the period from 8 to 21 July and which will affect a maximum of 800 employees (770 workers and 30 office workers). The Ckd bodywork department will not be involved in the layoff period. Fim-Uilm-Fismic-Uglm-Aqcf announce that: “In the next few days the meeting will be called to inform workers”.
As for the general secretary of the provincial Fiom of Chieti, Alfredo Fegatelli, he specifies: “The company has confirmed that the cause is the decline in demand for cab vans intended for campers and short wheelbase vans. Like Fiom we are worried because we believe that it cannot just be a market problem. In America, light commercial vehicle volumes are growing, as well as in Poland and the United Kingdom, where sales are increasing and production of electric light commercial vehicles is active at the Ellesmere Port plant. Furthermore, a new plant will be built in Luton in 2025. Our concern is that the Atessa plant is losing its central role in the production of light commercial vehicles within Stellantis, starting to suffer competition from the other plants in the group. All this does not only affect the workers of the former Sevelbut it is also creating problems for related workers.”
Also yesterday in Atessa, the first two-week stoppage began, affecting 400 workers, another two weeks of layoffs will take place from 24 June to 7 July and will affect a maximum number of 570 workers and 30 employees.
WALTER BERGHELLA
@REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED
