• Whirlpool, general industry strike in Naples on October 31st
  • Whirlpool. Workers arriving in procession under the headquarters of the Region, "Naples does not give up"

Share

October 30, 2019 "I want to address directly the workers of the Whirlpool plant in Naples to give them good news: in these hours the company has informed me of its intention to withdraw the transfer procedure": the Minister for Economic Development, Stefano Patuanelli on Facebook. "It is a first step, a first result that certainly allows us to reside at a table to try to solve definitively the problems of that establishment".

"Now - continues Patuanelli - there are conditions to sit down with the social partners to try to find a solution with the establishment. This was the first step to take but it was fundamental to do it otherwise the transfer procedure would have involved or the transfer to another entrepreneurial activity, which was difficult to accept, or a collective dismissal procedure ".


Whirlpool EMEA announces that it is ready to withdraw the company branch transfer procedure, not to proceed with the collective dismissal of Naples employees and to continue the production of washing machines. The decision, shared with the Minister of Economic Development Stefano Patuanelli, was taken with the aim of "restoring a constructive climate", a note reads, in the negotiation with the government and the trade unions. In fact, Whirlpool EMEA believes that "the current tensions are counterproductive in the search for a shared solution, in the face of a market situation which makes the site unsustainable and which requires a long-term solution" and is said to be convinced that, with more time available, constructive dialogue can be re-established and a shared solution can be reached to guarantee a long-term sustainable future for the Naples plant and its 400 employees ". In the coming days the discussion table will start again with all the parties involved.

"Whirlpool has finally accepted the union request to withdraw the sale procedure and not to open any other termination or dismissal procedure. It is only an armistice, but constitutes a first victory for the workers". This was declared by Rocco Palombella, Uilm general secretary, after the announcement given by the multinational company through the Ministry of Economic Development. "Tomorrow's demonstration in Campania - Palombella continues - will aim to clearly ask that the time gained with this Armistice serves to find a real and definitive solution, which starts from the respect of the agreements signed in Naples and more generally for all the Italian establishments "." The hard struggle of the workers - Palombella concludes - has paid and shows Whirlpool and the Government that we are not satisfied with fake façade solutions, but we want work and guarantees for workers ".