Restructuring events
European Restructuring Monitor (ERM)
The restructuring events database contains factsheets with data on large-scale restructuring events reported in the principal national media and company websites in each EU Member State. This database was created in 2002.
Unilever, a multinational producer of food and personal care products, announced 151 lay-offs at its plant in Caivano in southern Italy. The corporation stated the decision was based on the collapse of its market shares in the Italian ice cream sector, related to negative consumption trends and to the relatively low productivity of the plant compared to analogous production units in Germany and the UK. The plant produces ice cream for the Algida brand, and directly employs about 800 people while generating a further 100 jobs in satellite activities in the area. Redundancies should affect both white-collar and blue-collar workers. Trade unions have announced a strike as they consider the number of dismissals too high and have rejected the option to reduce the social costs of the restructuring by negotiating forms of incentivised dismissal. Consultations with unions have just started and are expected to be concluded by the end of November.
Updated 30/10/2015: An agreement has been reached closing the collective dismissal procedure. According to the agreement, the company will provide incentives to voluntary dismissal for 50 workers and activate solidarity contracts. In this way, they will reduce working hours instead of implementing further redundancies. The agreement also includes a plan aimed at increasing production and at improving work organisation.
Eurofound (2015), Unilever, Internal restructuring in Italy, factsheet number 84909, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://dev.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/84909.
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