Italian Metalworkers Call National Strike Over Taranto Plant Decommissioning

Metalworkers’ unions across Italy have called for a 24-hour national strike on Monday, October 12, as the country’s primary steel production enters a critical phase of decommissioning. The industrial action follows the suspension of production activities in the “hot area” of the Taranto steel plant on October 9, a move that Acciaierie d’Italia (ADI) maintains is a necessary compliance with judicial mandates regarding environmental and public health.

The Fim, Fiom, and Uilm unions announced the strike following the collapse of negotiations at Palazzo Chigi. The production halt in Taranto has placed the facility into a “hot stand-by” mode, a technical state where furnaces are kept heated but are not producing steel. Technical assessments indicate that if no stay of execution is granted by October 24, the plant will face a definitive shutdown on October 25, a process that could cause irreparable structural damage to the blast furnaces.

The 'hot area' of the facility has been placed in a standby state as legal proceedings continue.

The shutdown stems from a July 2026 ruling by the Milan Court of Appeal, which prioritized the right to health over industrial interests. That decision was upheld on October 5 when a final request to suspend the order was denied. The legal showdown now moves to the Supreme Court of Cassation, where Joint Divisions are scheduled to hear a final appeal on October 20—just five days before the deadline for a permanent shutdown.

Industrial Crisis and Regional Impact

While the Taranto plant is the center of the dispute, the crisis is rapidly spreading to northern processing sites. Facilities in Genoa and Novi Ligure are scheduled for their own shutdowns by November 15.

The national strike on October 12 is expected to halt operations across all former Ilva sites. Beyond the direct workforce, analysts warn that approximately 2,500 jobs in related supplier industries are at immediate risk. The suspension of Italy’s only integrated-cycle steel plant is also expected to disrupt domestic automotive and construction supply chains, which rely on the site for raw materials.

To address the looming unemployment crisis, the Italian government has indicated it will present a new decree-law by next Tuesday. The legislation is expected to contain enhanced social protections and a “Cassa integrazione” (wage-support) mechanism to provide financial stability for thousands of workers whose roles have been suspended by the court-ordered production halt.

The coming ten days remain the “point of no return” for the industrial complex. Without a favorable ruling from the Court of Cassation on October 20 or a legislative solution that satisfies the health mandates set by the Milan judiciary, the transition to “green steel” via electric furnaces remains a distant prospect for a workforce facing immediate displacement.

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