The special commissioners for Italian steel producer Ilva have decided to take advantage of a clause in ArcelorMittal's initial lease agreement to postpone the date on which the steel giant will be a ble to take over the plant. ArcelorMittal should have closed its purchase of Ilva by June 30, but now the deadline for the closure of the purchase is September 15 this year.
ArcelorMittal and local unions now have two and a half months to try to reach an agreement.
Rosario Rappa, local union representative stated, "The issues still to be resolved are the maintenance of the employment of all direct and indirect workers, the industrial plan, the environmental and reclamation works, to ensure that the plant can produce without polluting and to ensure the safeguarding of the health of the workers and citizens of Taranto, and the application of the Genoa program agreement. To achieve this, ArcelorMittal needs to change significantly the positions it has held so far at all negotiation tables."