Rizzo: "Useless comparison: we speak without knowing the industrial plan and delay despite having all the elements to close with the multinational. Ugly figure of politics "
"I am deeply disappointed by this morning's discussion". So the provincial coordinator Usb Taranto Frank Rizzo, in his speech during today's videoconference with the Government and commissioners of Ilva in AS
"We tell each other things we don't know, we talk about an industrial plan without knowing what the contents are. We discuss documents that we have not read, this is not serious reasoning. Covid 19 recalled by the French-Indian group is a beautiful and good excuse. For almost 2 years, the contracting companies have had arrears of credits, certainly not for 3 months, just as it is not only for 3 months that workers have been on layoffs. And yet unmaintained plants pay the consequences of a prolonged lack of interest. How can we speak of misunderstandings, these are wrongdoings! Mittal has practically not respected anything, so far he has done the opposite of everything he said and that was included in the agreement we signed. Arcelor must go away now, he has not invested a euro in Taranto. Now he is asking for other public resources. Probably to proceed with the dismissal of thousands of other workers. We are talking about 1,8 billion euros which must instead be used for economic reconversion and for the city. Ilva's technicians in AS, who have all the skills to intervene, must be put in a position to do it promptly, because in 15/20 days things could further precipitate".
"With these premises, how can we think of including Taranto in the European Green New Deal through decarbonisation, as Minister Gualtieri claims?
How can we speak of a guarantee for job continuity?
How is it possible to bridge the gap between this industrial plan which, they tell us, is inadmissible and the one the workers and Taranto all need "?
"Politics - continues Rizzo - it is not making a good impression: finally take courageous decisions for the good of the workers and the whole community, which deserve respect. Our impression is that there is a different attitude on the part of the ministers: that of Patuanelli closer to the needs we represent and that of Gualtieri certainly more distant. For the Mittal dispute therefore in order: via Mittal from Taranto, nationalization and safety of the factory".
This is the position of the Usb in the face of the government's declarations. In the meeting, the ministers of Economic Development, Stefano Patuanelli and of the Economy, Roberto Gualtieri, tried to reassure, talking about investments to get to produce steel with plants that lead to the use of other fuels and therefore to plan from here to 5/10 years the industrial reconversion, as well as the maintenance of employment levels: not only the 10.700 employees of Arcelor Mittal, but also the former Ilva workers in Extraordinary Administration. Ministers reiterated that Arcelor will have to assume its responsibilities and respect the existing contract.
Commissioners Antonio Lupo, Alessandro Danovi and Francesco Ardito also participated in the videoconference. Next confrontation in the presence of the company scheduled for next week.