Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) CEO Sergio Marchionne, on Thursday endorsed the reform agenda of Premier Matteo Renzi during a visit to the company's production plant at Melfi in the southern region of Basilicata. The controversial government reforms are "absolutely the right recipe", Marchionne said.
"The system is moving again after years of immobility," the Italo-American automaker chief continued. "Everyone makes mistakes but the important thing is to move forwards," he added. Marchionne then took the opportunity afforded by the Melfi visit to announce 1,000 new hires at the plant. "A further 1,000 people will very likely be employed in the Melfi plant by year's end," Marchionne said, adding that there were currently 12,000 people working at the site. "This is a plant that works, it's an excellent story. Our workers show an enthusiasm that is exceptional," the FCA chief continued. Marchionne also added his voice to the debate triggered by the premier last week when he said he would like there to be only one labour union.
A single union representing autoworkers does not smack of totalitarianism, the manager said in response to claims such a situation existed only in authoritarian regimes. "There is just one auto workers union in Germany and the United States, and I don't believe they are undemocratic," Marchionne explained. The CEO also said he was "certain" there would be a merger within the auto manufacturing industry by year end 2018.
"I am certain this will happen. It is my opinion dictated by instinct," Marchionne said. However, he played down media reports that he had sent an email to his counterpart at General Motors in March proposing a merger.
"I send lots of emails...and then, this is not the way to discuss such matters," Marchionne said of the alleged missive reported in Saturday's New York Times.
"The fact is that the problem I raised at the end of April concerning the huge amount of capital consumed by the auto industry must be addressed and a solution found," he added.
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