In short, the transition phase had to be agreed. Thus, after the meeting was suspended, the company postponed the dismissal procedure to mid-October. “We welcome the ministry’s request – reads a note from Whirlpool – the company extends the procedure until mid-October in exchange for a tight agenda of meetings to discuss the transition of people and any transfer of assets”.
The table was reconvened at the Mise on 28 September. The company has also repeatedly specified its willingness to meet again with unions and institutions to agree on the transition, both in relation to people, clarifying the tools that will be adopted, and on assets.
At the moment it seems that the dispute has finally taken a new path, but there is undoubtedly still a lot to be clarified. «The government’s effort is to find a serious prospect – said Minister Giorgetti – of industrial reconversion. It is worth investigating this project. I thank the company and the trade unions for their willingness to examine the path presented ». Minister Giorgetti had in fact asked the company, during the meeting, to favor the possibility of investigating the dossier which he had defined as «complex and ambitious. The consortium members are serious people – he said – and everyone has a duty to verify that the project can walk on its own feet ».
But let’s see what the ministry and Invitalia’s plan is, or at least the few elements of it that have been revealed for now. It follows the guidelines of the NRP and will make use of its funds and takes into account industrial sectors that are strategic for the region.
The first project of the five identified is promoted by a large company in the automotive-rail and tram sector, and concerns the production of seats to be supplied to the car, train and ship industries: an investment of 20 million is expected. The second is for a pilot plant for the industrialization of fuel cells for mobility (15 million). Another project involves supply chain SMEs for the development of innovation projects (30 million). The fourth is a project of a medium-sized automotive company for hubs of excellence for the development of innovative systems and for the provision of advanced engineering services for mobility (15 million). Finally, a large company in the automotive-rail and tram sector would be interested in creating a center of excellence for material testing and would invest 7 million. “The result obtained today at the Whirlpool table is due to a long mediation work between the parties carried out by Mise and Labor and a reindustrialization project carried out by Invitalia which, although to be deepened and concretized, already shows good foundations – said Deputy Minister Todde – I worked a lot on this dispute and to set the conditions for today’s result. I reconvened the table for 28 September at the Mise in order to continue the discussion between the parties to ensure the relaunch of the Campania plant ».