Italian energy group Enel unions to strike on 4 March

Three Italian unions representing employees of energy group Enel will go on strike on 4 March, likely affecting the company's power generation and distribution business.

Italian energy-sector unions Filctem, Flaei and Uiltec have announced a general strike by all Enel employees, targeting the company's renewable generation and distribution facilities. The planned action will comprise work bans, stoppages and refusals to perform tasks. Walkouts at Enel's thermal plants will be announced following a schedule that will shut down all facilities in March, the unions said.

The unions have also declared a halt to overtime work and temporary changes to work schedules from 24 February-24 March. Minimum service requirements will be maintained in accordance with national strike regulations.

Enel is Italy's largest electricity producer and distributor, operating about 11.7GW of thermal and 14.6GW of renewable capacity.

The strike action comes in response to Enel's plans to block new-hires for the next three years, reduce working flexibility, outsource core activities and disinvest from renewable energy. The measures are part of Enel's pledge to reduce its debts by cutting costs by €1.2bn over the next three years.

Union representatives said the debt-cutting measures risk reducing Enel's electricity output and distribution capabilities and they "seriously question" the company's ability to maintain hydropower and geothermal assets.

Enel's net debt stood at about €61bn at the end of November last year, with the group aiming to reduce this figure to €50bn-51bn by the end of this year.

By Timothy Santonastaso