On 20 June 2025, FIOM, FIM, and UILM staged an 8-hour strike combined with regional demonstrations across Italy. This action was essential to apply pressure on their counterparts. The two main employers’ associations, Federmeccanica and Assistal, continue to maintain their irresponsible attitude in refusing to reopen the negotiations for the national metal agreement.

The strike also extended to small and medium-sized enterprises. The unions relaunched their mobilisation and reinforced a blockade of overtime and flexibility.

Workers marched nationwide, delivering a clear message that they will not accept stagnation or concessions that undermine their living standards. Their demands include measures to address wage stagnation, job insecurity, and insufficient workplace protections.

From the outset, the three metal unions have acted commendably, engaging their members to ensure a democratic process in adopting their demands. They have developed a platform that accurately represents the interests of their members at the shop floor level.

FIOM, FIM, and UILM are leading the strike in response to employers’ refusal to engage in meaningful dialogue. The employers’ failure to offer a fair agreement jeopardises workers’ wages and rights, leading to widespread dissatisfaction.

Renewal of the national agreement is the answer to providing stability and restoring industrial relations in this critical sector for Italy’s employment, GDP, and trade balance. A revised agreement must ensure that working families, who have lost purchasing power during the cost-of-living crisis in recent years, receive their fair share of profits and productivity so that they can make ends meet. The metalworkers are united in the fight to resume bargaining.

General Secretary of industriAll Europe, Judith Kirton-Darling reiterates industriAll Europe’s steadfast solidarity with its affiliates in the Italian metal sector as they fight for dignity and justice. industriAll Europe stands firmly behind the workers' demands for clear and tangible increases in collectively agreed pay rates, ensuring they exceed inflation to improve purchasing power. Furthermore, we support their efforts to improve job quality through better work-life balance and training rights.

The General Secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, Atle Høie, urges the employers to return to the negotiating table and participate in good-faith bargaining. The revision of this massive agreement is long overdue. It is in the interest of both companies and workers to resolve the impasse and eliminate the current uncertainty.