Tenaris: resolution in Italy, strike in Argentina

ITALY/ARGENTINA: The Tenaris Workers’ World Council reports that a favourable agreement was reached for Tenaris employees in Italy on December 29, 2009 after 26 hours of bargaining.

In October Tenaris proposed a 114 million Euros investment plan for Italy. The plan included large investments but also the dismissal of 1,024 employees, the closure of the plant located in Piombino and suspended any new investment in the plant located in Costa Volpino.

After several measures opposing the closures and dismissals, including the march of the members of the Tenaris Workers’ World Council to the plant located in Bergamo in November last year, the unions and the employer reached an agreement including:

• No plant will be closed
• The number of job losses will be 741 instead of 1,024 and workers will participate in job reductions only voluntarily
• The employer will provide incentives for early retirements or other separation modalities
• Workers affected if the number needed is not reached by voluntary retirements will continue receiving 80 per cent of their wages and other benefits.

Meanwhile, in Argentina all permanent and contracted employees at the Tenaris plant in Valentín Alsina are currently on strike and picketing the front gate of the plant not allowing any vehicle in or out of the plant.

For three years Tenaris has employed 23 people on a permanent and full-time basis but listed them as contracted employees on their pay-roll. The minister of labour ordered Tenaris to recognize these employees as full-time permanent workers. Tenaris not only refused to follow the ministerial order, but also fired the 23 employees on January 18, 2010. All workers at the plant, permanent and contracted, are on strike in protest of the employer’s provocative attitude.