Italian factory workers protest safety penalties and contract reductions

At the Pierburg plant in Livorno, a worker was disciplined with a two‑hour wage fine for taking extra breaks during a day of extreme heat. The company’s RSU Pierburg union argued that short heat‑related pauses are a long‑standing, safety‑related practice approved by management, and called the sanction an alarming signal that threatens worker health.

In Rossano, two (three) cleaning staff employed by subcontractor CM at the Enel power plant chained themselves to the site gates to protest a planned reduction of their contracts from full‑time 40‑hour weeks to 26‑hour weeks starting 1 August 2026, which would also cut their salaries. Enel said the change results from a 30% service cut required by the client and that extra services had been provided to cover the gap. The CUB Calabria union demanded urgent dialogue to protect jobs and income.

Both incidents highlight rising tensions over workplace safety and employment conditions in Italy’s industrial sector.