The Italian Metalworkers Union (UILM) has called on the Italian government to discuss the debt situation of steelmaker Acciaierie d’Italia and the temporary layoffs which resulted in lower production rates especially at the Taranto plant in southern Italy.
“We want to know what real obstacles stand in the way of increasing production to six million mt, a limit that would ensure financial equilibrium,” the union stated.
In January, the company stated that it plans to produce four million mt of crude steel in 2023 and five million mt in 2024. However, Acciaierie d’Italia produced approximately 3.4 million mt of steel in 2022, which the trade union called a record low.
In addition, the union is calling for transparency regarding the Italian government’s €680 million fund to be allocated to Acciaierie d’Italia for decarbonization of the Taranto plant. UILM also wants definitive clarity on whether the company’s decarbonization targets are linked to the lack of a production recovery and the layoffs of three thousand workers.