Chrysler 2013 Annual Report Download - page 95

94 Report on Operations
In Italy, investment in health and safety, together with other measures implemented during the year, resulted in a progressive reduction in the
level of risk attributed to Group plants by INAIL (the national accident and disability agency). This enabled the Group to take advantage of
premium discounts for good performers, resulting in total savings of more than €17.5 million in 2011, approximately €16 million in 2012 and
€14.6 million in 2013.
In addition to safety in the workplace, the Group also has numerous initiatives to promote the health and well-being of employees and their families.
At Group level, for example, the “WELL” initiative focuses on the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and prevention of cardiovascular disease. In
2013, new fact sheets containing simple and easy-to-apply suggestions were made available via a dedicated portal. Areas covered included
advice on healthy eating, smoking cessation, cardiovascular disease and correct use of medicine. These issues are not only important to the
health of Group employees, but they are also relevant to the theme of “access to food that is healthy, safe and sufficient for everyone on the
planet” for Expo 2015, of which the Group is an official sponsor.
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND SOCIAL DIALOGUE
During 2013, the Group maintained the dialogue with trade unions and employee representatives to achieve consensus-based solutions for
responding to different market conditions in each geographic area and reducing the impact on workers of measures adopted in response to
conditions in Europe, which were particularly critical in Italy.
At the European level, establishment of a European Works Council (EWC) ensures workers the right to information and consultation as
required by EU regulations applicable to Community-scale undertakings. The Fiat Group EWC was established in 1997 on the basis of the
implementing agreement initially signed in 1996 and subsequently revised and amended. Since renewal of the agreement on 28 June 2011,
however, the EWC has yet to be formally constituted, with representatives for four countries (out of a total of nine) still to be appointed. As
a result, Fiat S.p.A. has been unable to call a meeting of the EWC in accordance with the established procedures. Fiat notified industriAll
European Trade Union (the European federation of metal, chemical and textiles workers) of its willingness to initiate that procedure as soon as
the EWC has been formed, as well as working jointly to find solutions for any obstacles to the correct constitution of the EWC that may still exist.
In Italy, Fiat S.p.A. and the trade unions FIM-CISL, UILM-UIL, FISMIC, UGL Metalmeccanici and the Associazione Quadri e Capi Fiat reached
an agreement for renewal of pay conditions for 2013 under the company-specific collective bargaining agreement (CCSL).
This agreement was particularly significant given the current economic crisis in Italy and the continued difficulties in the auto sector in general.
A mutually-agreed negotiation process enabled the Group to manage the crisis without redundancies or plant closures, focusing instead on
significant new investments for the relaunch of the Group’s manufacturing activities in Italy.
During the year, the Italian manufacturing activities benefited from leveraging the Group’s premium brands to realign the product portfolio and
reposition the business.
In particular, January saw the inauguration of the Avv. Giovanni Agnelli plant in Grugliasco (Turin, Italy), where the Maserati Quattroporte and
Maserati Ghibli are produced for export to markets worldwide. Fiat invested more than €1 billion in development of the two new models and
preparation of the plant for production.
In July, the Group presented plans for future activities at the Sevel plant in Atessa, Italy (operated as a 50/50 JV between Fiat Group Automobiles
and PSA–Peugeot Citroën for production of LCVs), where the Fiat Professional Ducato is currently produced. Approximately €700 million is to
be invested in the facility over a 5-year period.
During the year, the Group also launched a program of investments at the SATA Melfi plant (Italy), announced at the end of 2012, where more
than €1 billion will be spent on upgrades in preparation for production of the new 500X and a Jeep brand vehicle.
Sustainability