Shipping giant MSC is in talks with various stakeholders to gain control of the former Wärtsila plant in the port of Trieste and convert it into a rail rolling stock production site. However, multiple Italian trade unions are now highlighting how Wärtsila’s attitude might hamper the feasibility of the project.
Wärtsila, a Finnish ship engine manufacturer, closed its plant in Trieste in 2022. The company recently presented its plan for the incentives that would be dispensed among those workers who would be transferred under MSC once the deal is finalised. These figures, which were not specified, were deemed unsatisfactory by the three Italian trade unions involved in the negotiations, Fim, Fiom and Uilm. The unions claimed that Wärtsila’s position “did not allow to advance in the negotiations”.
Now the unions are asking the Finnish company not to proceed with any unilateral initiative and continue the talks. Time is of the essence here, as the Redundancy Fund set up for Wärtsila’s former employees is supposed to expire at the end of this month. The three unions are asking the company to extend this mechanism for at least another month and to avoid definitively firing people.
MSC’s plans for the former Wärtsila site
MSC announced its intention to take over the former Wärtsila plant in the port of Trieste and convert it into a manufacturing site for rail freight wagons and bogies in February. The company claims it can produce 1,000 new wagons and 3,000 new bogies every year. MSC’s plan entails the progressive reintegration of roughly 280 former Wärtsila employees over the next three years, for a total investment of 100 million euros. It now remains to be seen whether the new developments will in any way hinder this project.
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