Tension for Gruppo8, the picket continues: "No to eviction"

Forlì, 7 July 2025 – The dispute over the Gruppo8 company in via Gramadora is heating up. Having reached the fifth day of the strike – with workers on picket line in front of the plant –, «the Prefecture orders the eviction of the union garrison» . This is supported by the Sudd Cobas unionist Sarah Caldiero : «The company wants to get rid of those who have won rights and contracts. Until last December these workers were exploited with 12-hour shifts a day and were housed in a dormitory set up inside the plant in precarious conditions. Then the strike and after seven days of picket line the winning of regular contracts». In recent days, Gruppo8 had proclaimed its non-involvement , given that it works for the Sofalegname company, announcing a request for intervention by the police to restore normal activity.

Sudd Cobas, in yesterday's note, specifies that "the workers, formally, are employed by Sofalegname, a Chinese-run company that carries out production for Gruppo8 on a single basis, mostly within the same factory . Gruppo8 in turn is the Italian branch of the multinational Htl, leader in the luxury sofa market. We are faced with a system of Chinese boxes built to reduce costs and trample on the dignity of work". According to the unionist, once the employees have been regularized, now "the company would like to relocate production to China, and in part would like to outsource the processing, to continue producing at low prices". The protest began on Wednesday morning , when Sofalegname announced the stoppage of processing at Gruppo8, "with the consequent loss of 40 jobs". And the workers blocked 18 containers of materials headed to the port of Ravenna and destined for China. "For four days we have been asking the company for clarity on the future, but it also refuses to meet with the trade union Fillea Cgil". Regarding the possible intervention of the police forces on the demonstrators, the prefect Rinaldo Argentieri – contacted yesterday evening by Carlino – anticipated that he had formulated a proposal, attempting to mediate between the parties . More will probably be known in the next few hours. In the meantime, the Forlì Città Aperta association launches an appeal: support the workers' picket, who need camping stoves, frozen bottles, camping fridges, sleeping bags or blankets, halal food for lunch.

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