Ex Ilva, protest in Taranto. Unions: "Another 48 hours of strike in all factories"

They braved the humidity of the night and, to protect themselves in some way, lit improvised fires in the street by stacking pieces of wood, but the workers and union delegates of the former Ilva of Taranto did not abandon the garrisons that have been on the state roads at the gates of the city since yesterday morning: the 7 for Massafra-Taranto and the 106 for Metaponto-Reggio Calabria. The protest, which initially lasted 24 hours and then, following the decision of the workers' assembly and the Fim, Fiom, Uilm and Usb trade unions, became all-out, went on all night. And it will continue until the new convocation of the table on the former Ilva requested yesterday arrives from the Government (in the meantime, the Puglia Region has already called a meeting for Thursday morning). The unions also confirmed this: "In consideration of the government's lack of responses, national Fim, Fiom and Uilm have proclaimed a further 48 hours of strike" in all former Ilva factories. All the necessary initiatives will be organized at a local level", the metalworkers' unions said in a note.

Shifts between workers and trade unionists to maintain night patrols

To spend the night and keep the protest stands on the streets, workers and trade unionists organized themselves into shifts. It was, obviously, a much less consistent presence than that of early yesterday morning, when everything began, but in this way the continuity of the mobilization was ensured. At the moment it cannot be predicted how long the protest will last, even if this evening's Council of Ministers will pass a new decree on the former Ilva. Decree which will contain measures for workers (the redundancy fund in derogation for related staff and the continuation of the economic integration of the extraordinary fund for direct employees of Acciaierie d'Italia) and to encourage new industrial investments in the Taranto area.

Measures envisaged by the government still considered insufficient

Measures which, however, are still considered inadequate by the unions, who instead demand extraordinary interventions for workers, also in terms of early retirement, but, above all, answers on the future of the former Ilva, currently set to stop all activities, from Taranto (where they have already stopped) to Genoa (where they will stop shortly), unless the Court of Cassation, in the hearing on 20 October, annuls the decree of the Court of Appeal of Milan which orders the stop of the area at hot by October 25th (90 days from the issuing of the decree, which took place on July 27th). This morning, we learn from union sources, the protest will continue like yesterday with road blocks. There are currently no plans to hold any demonstrations in the city. Yesterday the participation in the strike was significant. We are talking about a factory that is even more deserted than usual, also because in Taranto the redundancy fund currently involves around 3,500 direct workers out of just under 8 thousand staff. Yesterday only the command workers were present to ensure the supervision and safety of the plants.