Yoox withdraws redundancy notices for 211 workers

There is a glimmer of hope in the Yoox case: the company has suspended with immediate effect the collective redundancy procedure for 211 employees, which had been announced in recent weeks as part of the reorganisation plan initiated by the online shopping company’s new owners.

Yoox

Yoox has heeded the appeal of Minister Adolfo Urso and announced the decision, requested by institutions and trade unions, at the meeting held at the Ministry for Enterprise and Made in Italy. This is not a definitive resolution of the case, since the redundancies (at the company’s sites in Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy) remain. However, as Urso pointed out, “we are finally on the right track: today marks the start of a new phase, which I hope will lead, within a reasonable timeframe, to a shared solution that is therefore acceptable to all the parties involved.”

The company had, on several occasions, refused to withdraw the redundancy plan, though it had hinted at an opening at the previous meeting held at the ministry. The next meeting is already set at Mimit for November 18. Over the next month-and-a-half, however, the company and the trade unions have scheduled a packed programme of six meetings to examine the company’s industrial situation in depth, beginning with the overall financial and commercial picture, and will be tasked with identifying a shared solution that, at this stage, could involve the use of social safety nets.

The trade unions are jubilant, with Filcams-Cgil, Fisascat-Cisl and Uiltucs speaking of “the identification of the correct prerequisites for a shared path of negotiation that could allow the redundancies to be overcome,” acknowledging the company’s commitment. The region is also satisfied with the agreement, having participated in the meeting with president Michele de Pascale and labour councillor Giovanni Paglia, and speaks of a successful team effort.

“The dispute,” they said, “has changed course; it has been set on the right track for dialogue. This is the Emilia-Romagna method, consistent with the social pact we have built at regional level. We will continue to play our part to ensure a successful outcome of the dispute, which can only coincide with the maximum protection of jobs and production continuity.”

The first meeting between the company and the trade unions is already set for Thursday, October 9, when they will begin to address the issues that led the company to announce 211 redundancies.