Ex Ilva, from Genoa to Taranto the mobilization crosses the squares

In Taranto on 12 October a long procession of workers and delegates marched towards the Eni plant, guarding the gates and blocking 37 tankers inside the refinery. The mobilization also moved to state road 7 in the direction of Bari, where the workers paralyzed traffic by forming long queues, and then set up a gazebo on the roundabout of state road 106 to ensure protection even during the night.

The mayor, Piero Bitetti, participated in the protest and relaunched "the request for a special law for Taranto that creates the conditions useful for generating investments and opportunities for development and employment". For the president of the Puglia Region, Antonio Decaro, "there is a path and it is that of a decarbonised factory. In the meantime, the former Ilva can and must continue to work with the cold process production activities, which can continue and be expanded".

Meanwhile, the territorial secretariats and the unitary trade union representatives of Ilva and Acciaierie d'Italia, both in extraordinary administration, and of the contracting sector, thanked workers "who participated massively in the protest, demonstrating unity, determination and a great sense of responsibility in the defense of dignity and their own future. The extraordinary participation in the mobilization has produced a first concrete result - they explain - the President of the Puglia Region has brought forward the meeting called for Friday to Thursday 15 October". "But let's be clear, redundancy payments cannot represent the solution for workers. The government - they say - must assume its responsibilities and urgently reconvene the trade union organizations at Palazzo Chigi to open a serious discussion on the introduction of extraordinary protection tools, income support for all workers involved and a serious industrial project with respect to a rapid decarbonisation plan".

In Genoa, mayor Silvia Salis contested the prospect of stopping the plants from November 15th. "Here there are all the characteristics to move forward: the plant works, the workers - he reiterated - just want to work and the market demands the products made in Genoa". Ligurian president Marco Bucci is along the same lines, proposing to purchase coils and slabs on the foreign market so as not to stop the plants.

During the day, however, when the procession arrived under the Prefecture, it found the entrances blocked by the armored vehicles of the Mobile Department. The workers then refused the meeting with the prefect and set up the tents directly on the asphalt.

The tents in Largo Lanfranco, a few meters from the prefecture of Genoa - ©Ansa

The Tarantini Parents Association criticizes: "Not a single word - the spokespersons complain - in defense of the health of the Tarantini. Everyone, trade unions, the president of the Region, the mayor, the young people who came from Bari to join the strike, absolutely all united against the inhabitants of this land of sacrifice. It's horrible, but it's like that". Yet, the activists warn, on 17 October, the day of the demonstration organized by citizens and movements, "other young people will arrive, not manipulated, from all over Puglia to support us, let's welcome them".

For further information:

Ex Ilva, hearing 20 October. Related companies: we suspend layoffs until the Court of Cassation