Electrolux workers strike in Italy over restructuring and job cuts

Electrolux workers in Italy have announced strikes and mobilizations to protest a corporate restructuring plan that threatens significant job losses and plant closures. The plan, initially involving approximately 1,719 redundancies, has been revised to 1,450 layoffs across five Italian sites.

A critical point of contention is the proposed closure of the Cerreto d'Esi plant, which would impact 170 workers, and tensions at the Solaro facility. Unions, including Uilm, Fim, and Fiom, are demanding the withdrawal of the plan and the implementation of an industrial strategy based on new investments rather than downsizing and potential relocation to countries like Poland or Thailand.

A decisive meeting is scheduled for October 5 at the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (Mimit). Minister Adolfo Urso aims to resolve the dispute by October, potentially exploring European regulatory changes to protect the domestic appliance sector. Meanwhile, workers are organizing protests and strikes in Rome to pressure the government and the company to safeguard local employment and industrial heritage.