News

In a joint press release, Italian unions Filcams Cgil, Cisl and Fisacat Uiltucs UIL united last week to announce a national day of strike action on the 9th of May after Auchan Italy’s unilateral decision to push through collective redundancies, expected to cost around 1500 workers their their jobs.  They also condemned Auchan Italy for withdrawing from the company collective agreement and for their refusal to consult with the unions, despite repeated efforts by unions to engage in constructive dialogue.

Auchan Italy claims that these cuts are a result of the general recession in Italy. However, they also derive from the risky business strategies pursued by the company which have contributed to the deterioration of their performance as a whole. This in turn has led the company to transfer the burden of their financial difficulties on to the backs of their workers.

Head of UNI Commerce Alke Boessiger said, “We wholeheartedly support the decision made by Filcams Cgil, Cisl and Fisacat Uiltucs UIL for a national day of strikes at Auchan Italy. The company cannot continue to pass the burden of restructuring and financial loss on to their workers.”

“We stand with Italian unions to support workers at Auchan Italy and to demand that Auchan Italy engages in meaningful social dialogue with the unions in order to reach a just conclusion that does not involve widespread redundancies.”