The strike follows a meeting with the Italian government on 8 October at Palazzo Chigi in Rome, which failed to provide concrete answers on the future of the steel group. According to the unions, discussions remain focused almost exclusively on social safety nets and income support measures, without offering workers a clear perspective for returning to work.

For the Italian unions, temporary income support cannot replace a credible industrial strategy that guarantees employment, protects industrial capacity and ensures a sustainable future for steel production.

Italian unions demand a comprehensive industrial plan

In a joint document presented on 31 July 2026, entitled Extraordinary National Plan for the Safety and Relaunch of Ex-ILVA, FIM, FIOM and UILM called for a comprehensive industrial strategy covering Taranto and all other sites within the group.
The unions insist that steel production must remain at the heart of the industrial project, supported by a socially just transition towards decarbonised steelmaking.

This transition requires substantial public investment, potentially complemented by private funding, and direct involvement of the Italian state in guaranteeing the implementation of the industrial plan. The unions are also calling for adequate financial resources to be allocated through Italy's 2027 budget.

Crucially, the transformation must not come at the expense of workers. The Italian unions are demanding accompanying social measures, including early retirement options, voluntary departure incentives, recognition of occupational health risks, and training and reskilling programmes to ensure workers have opportunities in the future decarbonised production system.

The future of all ex-ILVA sites is at stake

The unions stress that ex-ILVA must be considered as an integrated industrial group, rather than as a collection of individual production sites.

The Taranto steelworks is closely interconnected with facilities in Genoa, Novi Ligure, Racconigi, Salerno and Marghera, as well as the administrative and management functions based in Milan.

During the meeting, however, the government did not provide answers to union proposals to purchase semi-finished steel products to restart cold-processing and finishing lines at Taranto, Genoa, Novi Ligure, Racconigi and other production sites.

Nor were concrete commitments made on extraordinary social measures to support workers through the transition.

IndustriAll Europe stands with Italian steelworkers

The ex-ILVA crisis highlights the urgent need for a European industrial policy that supports the transformation of the steel sector while safeguarding production, quality jobs and strategic industrial capacity.

Decarbonisation must go hand in hand with investment, employment protection and a just transition for workers and industrial communities. Workers must not be left to bear the costs of industrial restructuring.

IndustriAll Europe fully supports today's strike by the Italian trade unions FIM, FIOM and UILM and stands in solidarity with all ex-ILVA workers.
The Italian unions have warned that today's 24-hour strike could be followed by further industrial action across the group's sites if meaningful progress is not achieved.

For industriAll Europe, the message is clear: Europe needs steel, and steelworkers need a future. A just transition requires a credible industrial plan, public investment and concrete guarantees for workers and their communities.