Type
Internal restructuring
Country
Italy
Region
Location of affected unit(s)
Sector
Retail
Retail Trade, Except Of Motor Vehicles And Motorcycles
Retail Sale In Non-Specialised Stores
47.11 - Retail sale in non-specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating

300 - 600 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
17 January 2017
Employment effect (start)
12 May 2017
Foreseen end date
31 May 2019

Description

Unicoop Tirreno, Italian cooperative supermarket chain based in Piombino (Livorno), announced the layoff of 600 part-time workers (481 full-time equivalent jobs) in centre and southern Italy. The job cuts are part of the 2017-2019 business plan, that aims at cutting labour costs by about € 9 million in a effort to reverse the current budget deficit. The cost reduction will be also implemented by discontinuing additional pay currently granted by company-level collective agreements.

The layoffs will affect personnel employed in stores, primarily those employed in Tuscany, and will result in the closure of 12 stores and the sale of another 8 stores. Unions announced strikes as they deem the plan unacceptable for its severe social consequences and the absence of measures to revamp the company.

The cooperative employs about 4,000 employees and manages 109 groceries and supermarkets in Tuscany, Campania, Umbria and Latium.  

Update 11/05/2017: Unions and the management reached an agreement entailing temporary wage cuts and the use of temporary layoff schemes in order to freeze the job cuts for one year. In the meanwhile, the company will offer up to € 30,000 to those intended to voluntarily leave the company over the next two years. According to media sources, about 300 workers declared an interest in the option.


Sources

  • 17 January 2017: Il Fatto Quotidiano
  • 17 January 2017: Il Sole 24 Ore
  • 19 January 2017: Il Tirreno
  • 10 July 2017: Il Fatto Quotidiano

Citation

Eurofound (2017), Unicoop Tirreno, Internal restructuring in Italy, factsheet number 90127, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/90127.