ArcelorMittal Italia unions strike over new industrial plan

The Fiom Fim and Uilm unions have announced a 24-hour strike on 9 June in all facilities of former Italian steelmaker Ilva, now ArcelorMittal Italia. The strike is a protest against the company’s new industrial plan for Ilva and, particularly, the Taranto facility where 3,300 job cuts have been proposed, Kallanish learns from union sources.

According to rumours, the new industrial plan submitted last week to the Italian authorities also proposes production of 6 million tonnes/year. Investments such as the revamp of blast furnace no. 5 will also be delayed due to the current Covid-19 crisis that is seen affecting the steel industry for the next three years, ArcelorMittal told Italian economic development minister Stefano Patuanelli.

The unions have obtained an urgent meeting on Tuesday with Patuanelli to discuss in detail the content of the industrial plan which is still unknown to them.

Meanwhile, in a televised interview, Patuanelli announced that ArcelorMittal’s new industrial plan “…does not reflect the government’s intentions for Taranto.” The company seems to be finding excuses not to keep its promises, he added. The government is working on a national plan for the Italian steel industry that also involves other sites such as Acciai speciali Terni and the former Aferpi, now JSW’s Piombino steelworks, he explained.