Meeting this morning at the regional Department of Productive Activities on the former Fiat plant in Termini Imerese. At the center of the discussion is the transition from Blutec to the Pelligra group which has expressed interest in acquiring the plant, promising a relaunch plan also appreciated by the Ministry of Business, which could lead to new opportunities for growth and development in the area.
Tamajo’s words
Councilor Edy Tamajo underlined the importance of “a fair and inclusive approach”. “There will be no first class or second class workers, guarantees are also needed for the related industries. Our goal – she assured her – is to safeguard equal treatment and guarantee equal opportunities to all employees, regardless of their role or seniority”.
The meeting was also attended by Vincenzo Cusumano and Giacomo Scala for the Labor Department, as well as all the representatives of the trade unions, some workers, the former Blutec commissioners and government officials.
“We will do the possible”
“We will do everything possible – added Tamajo – to facilitate a transition process that is as painless as possible for workers. Through the permanent technical table on the dispute we will monitor the progress of the negotiations and ensure that all interested parties are involved and informed. Our priority is to safeguard jobs and enhance the skills present in the plant. We are confident that, with dialogue and collaboration, we will be able to find a solution quickly.”
Albano: “Important conversation with Pelligra”
“The important and significant dialogue continues with the representatives of the Pelligra Italia holding and the former Blutec extraordinary commissioners to quickly reach the definition of the employment plan for all workers. The Department of Labor – reports Councilor Nuccia Albano – can count on sufficient financial resources; However, for the commitment of the sums and the related expenditure, some technical adjustments are needed to be shared with Rome, for which I have already made contact with the minister Marina Calderone. Furthermore, already this morning my offices had a meeting with the INPS regional management to address the issue of redundant workers. The serene climate of collaboration and participation that has been established, however, allows us to glimpse a satisfactory solution for all those involved”.
The meeting in the department of via degli Emiri in Palermo ended with a joint commitment to continue the negotiations in a constructive way and with a new call for next June 25th at 10 am.
Mayor Terranova and Sunseri: “No certainty from the Region”
“There is no certainty about the future of the company and the workers of the former Fiat in Termini Imerese and this after months of inaction is truly unacceptable”.
This was stated by the Mayor of Termini Imerese Maria Terranova and the M5S regional deputy Luigi Sunseri commenting on the technical table convened today by councilor Tamajo which was attended, among others, by representatives of the trade unions and Blutec commissioners. Also representing the municipality of Termini was the councilor Pippo Preti.
“With regard to the 30 million from the European Social Fund requested by the Sicilian Regional Assembly and intended for passive labor policies – says Maria Terranova – the failure to share information by the Labor Department at today’s meeting, 4 months after the last ministerial meeting, does not leave us calm. It was already clear last February that those sums could have been used to accompany workers closest to retirement, but from what little we have been able to learn today, the Ministry and the regional Labor Department have different visions. Contributions for retirement support are currently reserved only for former Fiat employees. We share and strongly support the need for their usability also for related workers with the same seniority of contributions. On the procedural front, the presentation of the appeal to the TAR by Sciara holding against the assignment procedure represents a factor of absolute uncertainty, considering that it must necessarily reach its conclusion next November”.
“The mayor’s concerns – states Sunseri – are the concerns of all the communities involved. After months of inaction, the most important themes and perspectives continue to be unknown. And this is unacceptable. Once the European elections are over, the councilor, MEP, perhaps councilor again, convenes a table from which no reassurances continue to arrive on the future of the workers and the relaunch of the company. We are stuck with Minister Urso’s press releases, but we know well that you can’t eat press releases.”
