Industry Minister Federica Guidi
said Wednesday a Whirlpool plan to lay off 30% of its Italy
workforce is "unspeakable".
No progress has been made in spite of a month of
government-brokered talks between labor and management, the
minister said.
Whirlpool is seeking to increase redundancies from 1,350 to
2,060 in what Marche Governor Gian Mario Spacca called "an
unacceptable, cold and preposterous" plan.
Unions warned the international household appliance
manufacturer takeover of Italian home-appliance maker Indesit
last July would lead to massive layoffs.
The deal signed at the time of the takeover by UILM, FIM
and UGL unions as well as Italian local and central governments
was aimed at avoiding 1,425 layoffs at Indesit and ensuring 83
million euros' worth of investments.
Whirlpool said last month that it plans to invest 500
million euros in Italian operations over four years.
But UILM warned Wednesday Whirlpool plans to lay off 2,060
of its 6,700 Italy workforce.
The bulk of the job losses are set to come on the factory
floor, with several hundred administrative and R&D positions
also being cut.
Unionized workers earlier this month blocked a major
highway between Rome and Naples to protest the proposed job
cuts.
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