On 9 September at the Ministry of Labour an agreement was reached by the Italian metalworker trade unions FIM, FIOM and UILM about the CNH plant, avoiding closure of the plant in Imola that the Fiat group had announced a few months ago. The collective agreement, which was reached after 81 days of picketing the plant, was reached in co-operation with the local union structures and the regional government. It notably provides for using the "Cassa Integrazione for crisis" (12 months), through which public funding Imola workers will not be dismissed.