IndustriAll European Trade Union and IndustriALL Global Union have written a joint letter to their Italian affiliates FIOM-CGIL, FIM-CISL and UILM to express full support and solidarity with the 24-hour strike scheduled today 8 November at the entire ArcelorMittal (ex Ilva Group) facilities. The strike comes in response to the highly disappointing meeting of the Italian metal trade unions with the Prime Minister and the top management of ArcelorMittal on Wednesday.

In our letter, we condemn in the strongest terms the recalcitrant stance of the government and the company’s management that has failed to withdraw the procedure of disengagement from the former Ilva plants, which was announced on 4 November.

IndustriALL Global Union and industriAll European Trade Union find it intolerable that ArcelorMittal has set provocative and unacceptable conditions, including the modification of the Environmental Plan, the reduction of production to four million tons, the request for the dismissal of 5,000 workers, as well as the questioning of the return to work of the 2,000 workers, currently under extraordinary administration.

It is imperative that the government take strong and unequivocal action to defend the future of Europe's most important steel industry. Furthermore, ArcelorMittal should immediately withdraw the procedure of disengagement, and restore all the conditions, as set in the agreement reached on 6 September 2018, which is the only way to ensure the environmental remediation and revitalization of the entire ex Ilva group. We also fully support the calls of our Italian members demands to avoid the spectre of an additional redundancy fund, and their call for environmental clean-up and employment protection.

Therefore, IndustriALL Global Union and industriAll European Trade Union rally behind the Italian metal sector unions in this struggle and send them warmest solidarity greetings.

 
Please read the solidarity letter of industriAll European Trade Union and industriALL Global Union. 
For further information contact Andrea Husen-Bradley