Fiat vote pivotal for all Italian industry / Fiat workers vote for new labour contract

In a referendum held on the 14 January 2011 workers at Fiat's historic Mirafiori factory have backed a landmark deal that will save the loss-making plant and could transform industrial relations in Italy.

Fiat won support from a thin majority of workers at this key factory for a contract that will limit strikes and absenteeism in exchange for €1bn investment in Italy.

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne had threatened to move production abroad from the Mirafiori plant, which has been an integral part of Fiat for over 70 years, if the workers rejected the changes.

BBC News, 13.1.11: Fiat's historic Mirafiori factory in Turin under threat http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12180520

Deutsche Welle, 15.1.11: Fiat workers vote 'yes' on groundbreaking labor deal http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14768294,00.html

Corriere Della Sera, 11.1.11: Marchionne mentions alternatives to Mirafiori PD tells FIOM to respect the outcome of the referendum http://www.corriere.it/International/english/articoli/2011/01/11/landini-fiat-conference.shtml

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