AST lay-offs cut from 537 to 150

(ANSA) - Rome, October 30 - ThyssenKrupp has agreed to cut the lay-offs at its AST steel plant in the Umbrian town of Terni from 537 to "140-150", Industry Minister Federica Guidi said after talks with management Thursday. "AST has said it is ready to reinforce the industrial plan," she said. The new plan will include voluntary redundancies of around 140, she said. A fresh meeting will take place next week. The AST crisis has become a hot potato after workers were hurt in clashes with police in Rome Wednesday. Cabinet Secretary Graziano Delrio said Thursday: "No one in this government ever said raise the police batons".