Trade unionists push for deal over lay-offs at Polish Fiat plant

Fiat Panda: photo - wikipedia

Redundancy packages are being hammered out, with workers in line to receive 9 to 18 months of salaries following departure from the firm.

Earlier this month, Fiat announced that it would be laying off 1500 employees at its plant in Tychy, with the cuts due to take place in the first quarter of 2013.

As workers were informed in October, the Fiat Panda model will cease to be made in Poland by the close of 2012.

It follows an agreement by which employees at the Fiat plant at Pomigliano, near Naples, consented to work a three-shift, 280-workday year as opposed to two shifts and 235 workdays, so as to improve productivity at the Italian factory.

Fiat has denied that the decision concerning the Polish factory was taken to improve sales of models from the Pomigliano plant.

Franciszek Gierot, who represents the Sierpien 80 trade union at the factory (the name recalls August 1980 advent of Poland's Solidarity trade union), has told the Polish Press Agency (PAP) that fifty of the 1500 laid off workers may remain.

He added that at present, the level of severance pay will be correspond to how long employees have worked at the plant.

In this respect, those who have worked for less than five years would be paid the lowest amount, covering nine months of salaries.

Talks are ongoing, and Fiat has yet to confirm such proposals. (nh)