Port workers have clashed with police in a number of protests following the announcement of sweeping job cuts. The job cuts constitute part of the Berlusconi government's latest round of austerity measures. The state-owned shipbuilder, Fincantieri, is imposing job cuts and changes to terms and conditions that will affect around a third of its employees or 2,500 workers. These include forced early retirement and reduced hours, which the unions claim will result in the closure of the historic shipyards at Sestri and Castellammare. In response, port workers have staged protests at a number of locations, which have resulted in clashes with management and police. The company has so far stated that the offered changes are “take it or leave it”. Further negotiations with unions are scheduled for 3 June.
English: http://libcom.org/news/clashes-italian-ports-over-job-cuts-25052011
This article was published in the Collective Bargaining Newsletter. It aims to facilitate information exchange between trade unions and to support the work of ETUC's collective bargaining committee. For more information, please contact the editor Maarten van Klaveren, Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Labour Studies (AIAS) M.vanKlaveren@uva.nl. You may find further information on the ETUI at www.etui.org, and on the AIAS at www.uva-aias.net. © ETUI aisbl, Brussels 2011.