Max Mara, step back from the 100 million plan for the "Fashion Hub"

A half-hearted protest, with 68 employees who dissociated themselves. Then it resulted in a two-day strike, the first in 40 years in the history of Max Mara. Finally it became a casus belli that ended up on the mayor's desk and in the city council. With an epilogue that no one would have wanted: the Emilian giant's about-face on the 100 million euro investment in the fashion hub, in the area of ​​the former Reggio Emilia Fair.

"It is frankly impossible to imagine realizing the project in a climate of division and exploitation such as the one that has gradually been created," wrote the president of Max Mara Fashion Group Luigi Maramotti to the mayor Marco Massari. An irrevocable U-turn. Especially after the City Council meeting on June 23. A meeting that did not focus on the urban and economic aspects of the project (the hub was to become the group's logistics center) but rather "on industrial relations." In particular, on the harassment - including insults and very strict controls exercised even on the physiological needs of the workers - reported by some of the workers at Manifattura San Maurizio, one of the group's factories, with 210 employees, mostly women. Harassment denied by the other workers, who in an open letter distanced themselves from accusations "that in no way reflect the climate within the factory nor the experiences of the majority of us."

Maramotti had already written to the employees - the group has almost 6,000 of them, about 4,500 of whom are in Reggio Emilia - noting that the complaint "does not in any way represent the reality of the facts and that our attention has always been focused on building a work environment based on mutual respect". But after the discussion in the city council, which voted in favor of the project, the mayor received a delegation of the workers who went on strike, without then hearing the voice of the company. To which, at that point, the meeting seemed like an endorsement of a protest that, even if not unanimous, can tarnish the reputation of the historic multinational.

"The Fashion Hub is a project separate from the dispute," says the secretary of the Cgil of Reggio Emilia, Cristian Sesena, "and we have never asked that the investment be subordinated to a union path but only that the issue of working conditions not be forgotten." As for the Municipality, everyone remembers that it is the mayor's practice to receive workers who protest to obtain better conditions. Now, in fact, he will also receive a delegation of workers who contradicted their colleagues.

The issue is inflaming the city. Also because there are new jobs involved. "About 900", they say from the company. And even if the numbers are scaled down by the Cgil - according to which the current logistics workers would also have been channeled into the new center - everyone believes that there should be no stop for the fashion hub. Starting with the secretary of the Cisl Emilia Centrale, Rosamaria Papaleo: "Now we need to go beyond the barricades". Everything is at a standstill: Max Mara (which has a production value of almost 2 billion) will not proceed with the acquisition of the area. Where, thanks to the project, green areas, parking lots, and cycle/pedestrian paths were also planned.