# Ex Ilva labor disputes and Taranto environmental protests > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/ex-ilva-steel-industry-labor-disputes > Updated: 2026-10-19T14:36:30.000Z. Sources: 56. Developments: 5. Following the end of the five-day national strike on October 16, industrial and civil tensions surrounding the ex-Ilva sites have intensified. On October 17, a large-scale civil demonstration occurred in Taranto at Piazzale Democrate. Organized by groups including Associazione Genitori Tarantini and PeaceLink, the protest brought together local workers and youth to demand the closure of the plant’s ‘hot area’ due to health and environmental concerns, with participants using slogans such as ‘ILVA is a killer’ to advocate for an industrial alternative to the current polluting model. In Genoa, the crisis shifted toward direct action on October 19, when workers from the Cornigliano plant occupied the departures area of Cristoforo Colombo Airport. This occupation was a response to the Acciaierie d’Italia commissioners’ decision to extend redundancy funds (cassa integrazione) to 8,622 employees through February 2027. Fiom representative Armando Palombo stated the move responds to a lack of guarantees regarding raw material supplies and production continuity. The instability extends to Piedmont, where unions are seeking guarantees for plants in Novi Ligure, Racconigi, and Gattinara. Meanwhile, the legal situation in Taranto remains critical as the Supreme Court of Cassation reviews appeals against the shutdown of the hot production area. As of October 19, the Supreme Court has reserved its decision on whether to halt the operation of the ‘hot area’. On October 19, labor unions and the Italian Ministry of Labor initiated discussions regarding support measures for workers facing the Ex Ilva crisis. These talks focused on implementing retirement pathways linked to strenuous work, which are expected to be included in the upcoming Budget Law. Union representatives, including FIM-CISL, emphasized the necessity of protecting subcontracted workers who risk exclusion due to current thresholds. ## Claims - Production activities in the Taranto hot area were suspended on October 9. (disputed by 3 sources) - Acciaierie d’Italia stated that the Taranto and Genoa plants will continue production and will recall staff from extraordinary furlough. (disputed) - Unions proclaimed a 24-hour national strike across all ex-Ilva plants on October 12, 2026. (corroborated by 23 sources) - The unions claim the government has failed to discuss a real industrial relaunch or decarbonization plan. (corroborated by 18 sources) - The strike may be extended to subsequent days through territorial mobilizations. (corroborated by 14 sources) - Workers in Taranto occupied a section of the SS106 highway near the Eni refinery. (corroborated by 7 sources) - Workers are demanding job security and industrial continuity rather than redundancy funds. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Bari and Brindisi airports issued notices regarding jet fuel shortages due to the protests. (corroborated by 6 sources) - A temporary shutdown of the Genoa and Novi Ligure plants is scheduled for November 15. (corroborated by 5 sources) - More than 50 of the approximately 300 Enilive service stations supplied by the Taranto refinery have run out of fuel. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Trade unions have declared the government's decree regarding the ex-Ilva plants to be insufficient. (corroborated by 5 sources) - The Italian government approved a decree extending furlough measures and maintaining certain plant areas in a state of readiness. (corroborated by 5 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-19: Italian labor unions discuss Ex Ilva crisis and Palermo hospital closure Italian unions are negotiating retirement support for Ex Ilva workers and demanding clarity on the three-year closure of Palermo's Ingrassia Hospital for renovations. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italian-labor-unions-discuss-ex-ilva-crisis-and-palermo-hospital-closure ### 2026-10-16: Taranto industrial crisis: workers and citizens protest as redundancy funds expand Taranto faces a dual crisis as Acciaierie d’Italia expands redundancy funds for thousands of workers while citizens protest rising cancer rates and industrial pollution. A government meeting is set for Oct 27. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ex-ilva-workers-end-strike-and-road-blockades-in-taranto ### 2026-10-14: Taranto refinery blockade causes fuel shortages in southern Italy Protests over the former Ilva steelworks have blocked the Eni refinery in Taranto, causing fuel shortages at service stations and airports across southern Italy and prompting government intervention. 17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ex-ilva-workers-enter-third-day-of-protests-in-taranto ### 2026-10-11: Ex-Ilva workers launch national strikes across Italy Ex-Ilva workers are conducting national strikes and protests across Italy, from Taranto to Genoa, demanding industrial continuity and government intervention to prevent plant shutdowns. 32 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cornigliano-steel-workers-announce-24-hour-strike ### 2026-10-09: Ex Ilva unions announce 24-hour national strike Italian metalworkers' unions Fim, Fiom, and Uilm have called for a 24-hour national strike on October 12 due to a lack of industrial relaunch plans for Ex Ilva. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ex-ilva-unions-announce-24-hour-national-strike --- Cite as: Ex Ilva labor disputes and Taranto environmental protests. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/ex-ilva-steel-industry-labor-disputes