Alexandre
The situation at Maserati Modena seems to be getting more and more complicated for its employees. With the plant running at very low capacity, Stellantis, owner of the Italian manufacturer, is proposing a solution for employees on short-time working: working temporarily at the Kragujevac plant in Serbia. A proposal that sent shockwaves through the ranks of unions and workers alike.
As of November 2024, employees at Maserati's Modena plant have been laid off, after a particularly low production of just 220 Maserati MC20s for the whole year. The situation became critical, and the prospect of an uncertain future set in. But recently, a proposal from Stellantis came as a real shock: the Modena workers could be sent temporarily to Kragujevac, Serbia, to work on production of the Fiat Grande Panda.
This voluntary transfer is seen as a last resort. "This offer is a farce," says Stefania Ferrari, secretary of Fiom Modena. In her opinion, this is not a viable solution for Maserati, a brand that is supposed to represent Italian excellence. "The workers are in a precarious situation, and now they're being offered to go and work in Serbia as if this were a solution to their problems. It's an insult to their dignity," she adds, denouncing this "hostage-taking" of employees who, in order to survive, are forced to accept an offer far from home.
Stellantis' proposal seems to be based on a bitter observation: the Modena plant, which has not produced a single vehicle since the beginning of the year, is struggling to find sufficient orders. The flagship model, the MC20 Folgore, was supposed to embody Maserati's revival, has been cancelled.
Not producing the MC20 Folgore in Modena only fuels the workers' frustration. Not only is the immediate future of the plant uncertain, but employees are also faced with difficult choices. Those who have been out of work for several months are now faced with the possibility of moving to Serbia. But at what price? Remuneration and housing conditions remain unclear, and many are worried about the social consequences of this temporary move.
Modena's Fiom union reacted by denouncing this "humiliating treatment" of employees. According to Stefania Ferrari, these offers only add injustice to an already difficult situation. Furthermore, the unions regret that they were not involved in the discussions concerning this work option in Serbia, which shows a lack of communication with workers' representatives.