Portovesme, Sider Alloys workers ask for certainties from the government

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The restructuring of the plant has not yet been completed, the industrial plan is awaited, the unknown of the redundancy fund remains and the mobilization starts again at Sider Alloys in Portovesme. With unions and workers announcing protest actions and calling for government intervention.

At the center of the discussion is the future of the primary aluminum plant that the Italian-Swiss company took over from Alcoa. «The situation is truly worrying, we still don’t know what the future plans are for a relaunch of production – says Roberto Forresu, regional secretary of Fiom -. The arrangement of the electrolysis room has not yet been carried out, an industrial plan has not been presented to us, the aspects linked to guarantees are not yet known and there is the specter of redundancy”.

Concerned assembly

Topics ended up at the center of the metalworkers’ assembly in which the need for a government meeting was reiterated. Even in light of the postponements of recent days. «The first meeting, necessary to address the issue and have clarifications on the future of the factory, set for March 7, has been postponed to an indefinite date – adds Forresu –, at this point a meeting at the highest levels is necessary to address the matter ».

The game revolves around the plant which at the time of Alcoa produced 150 thousand tons of primary aluminum in blocks and billets and its restart. After the stop in 2012, the mobilization, and six years ago the entry of Sider Alloys with a 170 million relaunch plan and a project for the employment of around 400 people. Then the entry into the plants, the first hires and the start of a first part of the works with the renovation of part of the plants and the start-up of the foundry. Sace guarantees were unblocked last December.

Aspects to clarify

«To date, however, some aspects need to be clarified – argues Forresu – such as the industrial plan and the times for the revamping of the electrolysis and therefore the restarting of all the plants». The appeal of the unions and workers also goes to the government for another reason: «The State participates in Sider Alloys, through Invitalia, with 20%, while the workers with 5%». Hence the announcement: «The general assembly, concerned by the delays with which the company and national institutions are slow in guaranteeing the strategic future of primary aluminium, does not rule out protest initiatives, useful in bringing attention back to the Sider Alloys dispute».