RIMINI, Italy, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Fiat's chief executive officer in Italy said the company was justified in firing three disruptive union workers and called for a new "social pact."
CEO Marchionne said in a speech in Rimini, "It's unacceptable to tolerate or defend certain acts, which in some cases go as far as sabotage."
Italy, he said, is "afraid of change," as he called for a "social pact, a common effort to share sacrifices and commitments and give the country a chance to move forward."
The three workers were fired for allegedly interfering with non-striking workers, which caused 1,700 workers to halt production temporarily, Ansa reported Thursday.
An Italian court reversed the firing of Giovanni Barozzino, Antonio Lamorte and Marco Pignatelli, but the company sequestered the reinstated workers in a separate room and told them they could only work on union business.
In his speech, Marchionne said, "While we still have the old outlooks weighing us down, there will never be space for new horizons."
