On the one hand the need to save thousands of jobs, on the other the protection of health and the environment. It is still on this balance, after years, that the future of the former Ilva of Taranto is being played out, at the center of new political, industrial and judicial tensions.
A few hours ago, the Chamber definitively approved the decree on the operational continuity of strategic steel plants, with 125 votes in favour, 43 against and 52 abstentions. At the same time, the Court of Cassation examined the appeals against the stop of the hot area of the Taranto plant, postponing the decision.
Making the picture of the steel sector even more dramatic came the news of the death of Roberto Fontana, 47 years old, who was the victim of an accident at work at the Acciaierie Venete in Sarezzo, in the province of Brescia.
What does the ex Ilva decree provide and why the Supreme Court has not yet decided
The newly approved provision intervenes on the financial guarantees required for the management of waste and landfills. In particular, it allows companies in extraordinary administration to present annual guarantees, rather than multi-year ones, until the transfer of the plants. The objective is to lighten financial burdens and guarantee the continuity of production activities, without eliminating the environmental obligations established by law.
However, the judicial question on the future of the former Ilva hot area remains open. Last October 20, the United Civil Sections of the Supreme Court discussed the appeals presented by the group companies against the provision of the Court of Appeal of Milan requiring the shutdown of the plants.
During the hearing, the advocate general of the Supreme Court contested the lack of an adequate balance between health protection and industrial production, arguing that the environmental danger should have been concretely ascertained. However, this is the position of the Attorney General’s Office and not a decision of the judges, who have reserved their opinion.
The affair brings to the center an issue that has been unresolved for years: how to guarantee the industrial and employment future of Taranto without compromising the health of workers and citizens, already exposed to the consequences of the pollution produced by the plant.
The tragedy of Sarezzo and the workers’ protests
Meanwhile, another drama hits the Italian steel industry. Roberto Fontana, 47 years old, owner of an external company, died on 20 October in the Acciaierie Venete plant in Sarezzo, in the Brescia area. According to initial reconstructions, the man was on a lifting basket when a heavy vehicle hit him, causing him to be crushed. He was taken to hospital and died shortly afterwards. The exact dynamics of the accident are still under investigation.
As a sign of mourning, Federacciai postponed the public meeting scheduled for October 26 to a later date, while the unions asked for clarity on the safety conditions inside the plant.
On the former Ilva front, meanwhile, workers’ concerns about the future of employment and the lack of certainty on an industrial level continue. After the protests of recent days, a new confrontation with the government is expected on October 27th.
The newly approved decree may contribute to production continuity, but it does not solve the environmental, health and employment problems of the sector. And the Sarezzo tragedy only reminds us how urgent it is to guarantee not only the survival of the factories, but also the safety of the people who work there every day.
