Labor Minister Giuliano Poletti
said Friday that Whirlpool's plan lay off 2,060 at its Italy
plants is "unacceptable".
"We commit ourselves to the full and to the last breath to
obtaining a change in Whirlpool's industrial plan," the minister
pledged.
Poletti said Wednesday the international household
appliance manufacturer must file a new business plan in line
with agreements made during its takeover of Italy's Indesit
appliance maker last July.
"These (agreements) must be respected," he said.
Unions had warned the Whirlpool takeover 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 government
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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