Grim Christmas for workers at Fiat’s Cassino Plant

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Workers at Fiat’s Cassino – Piedimonte San Germano plant are confronting an idle Christmas and a not-so-happy New Year. All 4,300 of the plant’s employees have been furloughed through January 9, 2012 and they will be working just three days a week when they return.

The Cassino plant builds the Fiat Bravo, Lancia Delta and Alfa Romeo Giulietta and total output is about 600 cars a day. The union workers, who have approved a Pomigliano-style labor contract, are waiting to see if a new vehicle will be assigned to their plant or if they will be working part-time for nearly a year waiting for the next generation Giulietta.