Historic agreement between Ducati and Workers for investments and development in Bologna

Ducati and the Workers have signed a historic agreement, reached thanks to the positive contribution of all the trade unions, which will allow us to look to the future with even greater confidence. The Company plans to invest 11,5 million euros over the next 5 years in the Borgo Panigale plant to strengthen and bring the production of camshafts and crankshafts to the technological forefront and thus consolidate the Bolognese plant as a global reference center for its own excellent mechanical processes.

The Workers, gathered in the assembly yesterday 22 September, voted and approved by a large majority the draft agreement prepared by the regional and territorial trade union organizations FIM, FIOM and UILM, by the Ducati RSU and by the Company, thus giving effect to the agreement starting next October 1, 2014.

The agreement, which also includes Sunday work, provides for the transition from 15 to 21 weekly shifts organized over three working days plus two rest days and will allow workers to reconcile private life and work as well as realize a significant salary increase.

This agreement represents an important historical step in the relationship between the Company and its Workers, creating the conditions for future investments and will have an immediate impact on employment with 13 new specialized and permanent jobs in the Borgo Panigale plant.

Marino Mazzini, General Secretary of the FIM metropolitan area of ​​Bologna: “it is an agreement of perspective, investments, hiring, salary and reduction of the average annual working hours, to maintain and implement the machining of crankshafts and cams in Borgo Panigale. A great sense of responsibility and sacrifice must be recognized by the workers in that department. An agreement that represents added value for the entire Bologna area, giving the possibility of expansion to the entire local supplier chain. It is a decisive step towards development."

Bruno Papignani, General Secretary of Fiom Emilia Romagna: "we are conducting a very complex negotiation for the topics that are under discussion, it is clear that the evaluation can only be overall, when all the topics find a positive solution. However, the part relating to the new shifts, approved by 71% of the workers involved in a secret vote, concerns important and delicate aspects including: certainty of investment, greater employment, lower average working hours of the workers in the face of greater use of the plants. In fact, workers will have an average weekly working time of 30 hours with 40 pay and a daily break of 30 minutes, to which must be added a substantial increase in inconvenience allowances for shifts. I believe that after the agreement on the dual training system, this represents a further piece in composing an overall important agreement. I therefore consider the one on shifts to be a necessary agreement that keeps company needs and those of workers in balance, consolidating stability and employment development".

Franco Ghini, Uilm regional secretary: "it is a fundamental union agreement not only for Bologna because, by addressing and resolving the central issue of system productivity with reformist and participatory union relations, a significant reduction in working hours has been achieved (30 hours weekly averages paid 40) and a significant increase in wages, consolidating and developing the mechanical processing area in Borgo Panigale, which will allow an important implementation of overall employment".

Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati: “this agreement lays the foundations for a significant increase in productivity which makes investments more advantageous and paves the way for new jobs. I must thank the Workers and Unions for their collaboration on an agreement that incorporates the need for change, as a response to a continuous worsening of the competitive scenario between nations,” he commented.

Luigi Torlai, Human Resources Director of Ducati: “With this agreement we wish to offer new job opportunities, in particular dedicated to young people who are currently suffering from socially disadvantaged conditions and to demonstrate that trade union relations can be a positive boost for the development of the 'Company if they pass through the real consensus and motivation of the Workers".