Fiat-Hitachi workers oppose repeal of working time flexibility deal

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In May 1998, workers at the Fiat-Hitachi factory in Turin opposed the repeal of a recent agreement on working time flexibility, signed by company trade union representatives. Two-thirds of those voting supported the deal, which had been opposed by the Fiom-Cgil union.

On 10 May 1998, workers at the Fiat-Hitachi plant in Turin voted "No" in a referendum on overturning an agreement on working time flexibility, signed by the company's "unitary union representative body" (Rappresentanza Sindacale Unitaria, Rsu) on 15 April. Of those voting, 413 out of 638 (426 blue-collar workers and 212 white-collar) opposed the proposition - a majority of 65%. This was the first time in Italy that workers had been asked to express their opinions through a referendum which proposed the repeal of an agreement signed by trade unions in an Rsu. The referendum was promoted by the Fiom-Cgil union after the conclusion of the agreement by the Rsu.

The Fiat-Hitachi agreement in question provides for: the hiring of 30 workers, because workers on the first shift will work on nine Saturdays a year, rather than the four laid down in the national agreement for the sector; a switch from work/training contracts to open-ended employment contracts for 25 workers; and the organisation of summer holidays over three consecutive weeks.

Fim-Cisl, the union which has the majority of the representatives on the Fiat-Hitachi Rsu, declared itself satisfied with the result of the Turin referendum, because the workers had thereby defended an agreement signed by their own Rsu. The national Fiat group coordinator for Fim-Cisl, Cosmano Spagnuolo, said that the result of the referendum demonstrates that workers reward those who take the responsibility of facing up to the problems of enterprises, workers and unions, not only during recession but also during periods of economic recovery. According to Mr Spagnuolo, the agreement allows working time flexibility and employment growth to be combined.

This event underlines the difficulties that Italian unions are encountering in developing joint initiatives on working time flexibility and on other important aspects of the industrial relations system, such as worker representation with all its implications. This applies especially the problem of how to settle disputes between workers and unions - a subject on which the Cgil, Cisl and Uil confederations are in disagreement (IT9804226F).