Alexandre
A large-scale demonstration is planned for September 12 in Termoli, southern Italy, to safeguard the future of the Stellantis plant, an emblematic site that is going through a period of profound uncertainty.
A plant in peril
The Termoli plant, once the beating heart of Fiat engine production, is now at the center of a storm. The FireFly engine, heir to the FIRE engines, once a symbol of reliability, seems doomed, while Stellantis could cease production of one version as early as October 1. If implemented, this decision would directly threaten the jobs of some 400 workers specializing in the production of 16-valve engines.
The effects of the crisis are already being felt. Several months ago, the plant has suffered repeated production stoppagesand employees fear that the end of FireFly production is just a prelude to the total closure of the site. Despite announcements that the plant would be transformed into a Gigafactory for batteries, concrete projects have been slow to materialize, plunging the local workforce into uncertainty.
A rallying cry to save jobs
Faced with this situation, the Italian unions, including Fim, Uilm, Fismic, Uglm, Fiom and Aqcf, decided to take matters into their own hands. A mobilization is planned for September 12, just a few days away from a crucial meeting scheduled for September 17 at the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (Mimit). The unions hope to put pressure on Stellantis and government authorities to obtain guarantees for the future of the plant and the preservation of jobs.
In a statement issued by the unions and relayed by local media termolionline, emphasis on the strategic importance of the Gigafactory for the region and for the Italian automotive industry. Much more than a simple industrial initiative, this project is seen as a crucial step towards ecological transition and the modernization of Italy's industrial infrastructure. However, the promises must be put into practice quickly to avoid a social catastrophe in Molise, an already economically fragile region.
Strong mobilization expected
The September 12 demonstration in Termoli, to be held at 5:00 p.m. in Piazza Monumento (Piazza Vittorio Veneto), may well prove decisive for the future of the plant. Workers, unions and citizens are invited to gather en masse to express their support for the cause. The presence of the unions' national secretariats underlines the importance of this mobilization, which aims to remind Stellantis and the government that Termoli's future cannot be sacrificed.
The war has already been going on for several years now, and it's an economic war above all. We have to be the best and the cheapest, and the Asians have acquired real expertise in this area.