For now, the company appears adamant even when faced with the proposal to proceed instead with four voluntary exits or early retirement
The union protest over the dismissal of four Maersk Italia seafarers at the Genoa headquarters is in full swing.The confederal unions Filt Cgil, Fit Cisl and Uiltrasporti report that the city councilor for Economic Development, Labor and Labor Relations, lawyer Mario Mascia, “has summoned the union organizations and the Maersk company regarding the dismissal of four workers that occurred last week, also following the strike day of January 22, 2025″.
The use of AI is worrying
“The use of artificial intelligence is worrying if it is only intended to replace tasks previously performed by workers, as happened at the Genoa headquarters of Maersk“. This was stated by the national secretary of Filt Cgil Michele De Rose, adding that “what happened in Genoa is the demonstration of what, as a union, we have long been denouncing on how automation can lead to the loss of jobs, creating social inequalities”.
The workers’ representatives have once again expressed strong disagreement on the management and communication methods adopted by Maersk. “Disappointment – we read in a note – also shared by Councilor Mascia, who hoped for a substantial rethink by the company, asking for the reinstatement of the four workers involved, or at least the implementation of alternative solutions aimed at helping these people to immediately relocate”according to Shipping Italy
“Disappointment” !!
Maersk has not yet made any open statements regarding the reinstatement of the people involved.The trade unions are asking that the dismissal procedure be linked to four positions, and no longer to specific names. “In this way – say the unions – it would be possible to identify four people within the entire company willing to take early retirement, or to leave voluntarily with an incentive, allowing the relocation to other roles of the four workers who until now were assigned to the Customer Service Workflow”.
The councilor has reconvened a meeting for next week.
“We hope that the company will carefully evaluate all the observations and proposals that have been put forward by the trade unions and the councilor in these days, and that it will want to collaborate in order to find a positive solution to this matter which, in our opinion, and not only, has been handled with great superficiality and without respect for the workers affected,” the note concludes. “We remind you that the jobs and source of income of four people are at stake, workers with experience, value and, above all, the right to personal dignity.”
AI in transport and logistics
On the other hand “The use of artificial intelligence is worrying if it is only intended to replace tasks previously performed by workers, as happened at the Genoa headquarters of Maersk”. This was stated by the national secretary of Filt Cgil Michele De Rose, adding that “what happened in Genoa is the demonstration of what, as a union, we have long been denouncing on how automation can lead to the loss of jobs, creating social inequalities”.
The use of AI can be an opportunity
“, the use of artificial intelligence – continues the national director of Filt Cgil – can be an opportunity, as proposed by Federlogistica in its annual assembly, for a pact between companies and unions to manage the processes of change in the world of work. We are ready if automation means helping to carry out repetitive tasks and above all to improve efficiency in various sectors, such as transport and logistics”.
New technology-related tasks
“We have started work on new technology-related tasks – De Rose finally states – with the renewal of the national contract for Logistics and Freight Transport, introducing new professional figures who replace workers with tasks that are now obsolete. We are ready for a discussion but one that is linked to the negotiation of rights and salaries, linked to technological innovation and taking into account the consequences related to privacy, security and social impact”.
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