Following protest actions in October 2019 and October 2020, another day of national strike was organised on Friday 18 June in all 7 plants of the multinational home appliances producer Whirlpool.

A temporary freeze of the dismissal procedure is coming to an end on 30 June, and so far no solution has been found that guarantees the preservation of production and jobs. The jobs of 350 workers are at stake and many more in the supply chain. Whirlpool maintains its decision to close the plant and promises from local authorities to re-industrialise the region have not yet led to any concrete results.

The white goods sector relies on innovation to develop more energy efficient products in order to maintain production and jobs. The 2019-2021 investment plan agreed in 2018 between the Italian government and the company was therefore an essential lifeline. 17 million euros of this plan were earmarked to produce high-end washing machines in Naples. However, only 6 months after signing the investment agreement Whirlpool decided to close the plant!

In response to Friday’s strike action, the Ministry of Economic Development has accepted to meet the Italian trade unions on 23 June.

Luc Triangle, industriAll Europe’s General Secretary:

“Workers don’t want promises, they need jobs! It is time for the Italian government to turn promises into solid solutions. IndustriAll Europe stands with its Italian affiliates, Fim-Cisl, Fiom-Cgil and Uilm-Uil, in their continued fight against the announced closure of the Naples plant.”

Contact: Andrea Husen-Bradley (press and communication), Bruno Demaître (policy adviser)