TURIN -
Workers at Fiat’s Mirafiori plant in Italy gave their collective green light to an agreement with the automaker in a referendum last week.
With workers voting to accept the terms — albeit narrowly, according to reports — it appears the facility will be used to build Jeep and Alfa Romeo vehicles to be distributed throughout the world.
The U.S. is also expected to receive vehicles from the factory.
Chief executive officer Sergio Marchionne argued that the new platform at the factory will help Fiat achieve robust production — as many as 280,000 units annually — and possibly create more jobs.
"We are pleased that the majority of workers at Mirafiori have understood Fiat’s commitment to transform that plant into one of international standing," he said in a statement. "We are pleased because their vote demonstrates their confidence in themselves and their future."
He continued: "The plan for the Mirafiori plant is very ambitious. The company to be created in partnership between Fiat and Chrysler will enable establishment of a new platform at Mirafiori for the construction of large SUVs for distribution under both the Jeep and Alfa Romeo brands worldwide, including in the United States."
Marchionne added: "The sole purpose of the agreement that serves as the basis for achieving all of this — the same agreement that has been at the center of so much conflict — is to ensure the plant works more effectively, without infringing on any rights.”
Apparently, the contract had been met with resistance by some, according to reports. Ultimately, though, the workers gave their approval. Marchionne attempted to soothe any angst regarding the agreement.
"It doesn’t penalize workers in any way. Rather, it maintains unchanged all conditions of the national collective agreement which are in their favor, as well as all those conditions which Fiat has over time extended to its workers directly,” he explained.
"The work organization is, in fact, the same that has been experimented with at Mirafiori for more than two years and takes account of the level of fatigue associated with the type of work performed," Marchionne added.
He went on to explain the rules surrounding the shifts (including the Saturday night shift, which had apparently caused some anguish), overtime, employee breaks, sick leave and the compensation structure.
“As the majority of our workers have understood, there is nothing exceptional in the Mirafiori agreement, other than the opportunity to re-launch the plant and give it the profile it deserves internationally,” Marchionne argued.
"The criticisms leveled at us have been unjust and often frustrating,” he added. "When you see your efforts being misrepresented, you sometimes ask yourself if it is really worth it. The majority of workers at Mirafiori have given the clear message that commitment to building something better is always worthwhile."
Continuing on, Fiat chairman John Elkann echoed Marchionne in issuing his support of the agreement. Elkann also expressed his gratitude for workers accepting the terms.
The workers’ "choice opens new prospects for the men and women who work at the Mirafiori plant," he noted.
"The desire to remain in the game has won out; we will demonstrate that in Italy it is still possible to make great cars that are appreciated around the world,” Elkann shared. "Now it is time to put away the rhetoric and conflict, and confront the challenges ahead of us in a constructive manner. On behalf of my family, I confirm our full and steadfast support."