ITALY: Fiat workers strike over Ronaldo signing

Workers at a Fiat Chrysler plant in Italy are to strike after its main investor decided to pay €105m to sign Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo for Juventus.

The strike action will take place between the evening of July 15 and the morning of July 17 due to the workers’ unhappiness over the deal.

The company – which owns the brand Ferrari – is believed to be 29.1 percent owned by the Agnelli family, who also hold a 63.77 per cent stake in Juventus.

In a statement released by the Italian trade union, Unione Sindicale di Baseor (USB), it suggests that the decision to sign Ronaldo means Fiat is missing out on investment.

“It is unacceptable that, while for years you have continued to ask FCA [Fiat Chrysler Automobiles] and CNHI [Case and New Holland Industrial] workers to make enormous sacrifices on an economic level, the company spends hundreds of millions of euros on the purchase of a footballer,” USB was quoted by mirror.co.uk.

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“We are told that times are tough and that we must resort to social safety nets in anticipation of the launch of new models which never arrive.

“And, while the workers and their families tighten up the belts, more and more, the company decides to invest on a human resource for so much money. Is all of this right?

“Is it right that one single person can earn millions and yet thousands of families don’t even get to the middle of the month?,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, football finance expert Rob Wilson, of Sheffield Hallam University, said Juventus should earn more than enough money from Ronaldo to cover the transfer fee and his wages.

“The marketing leverage that Juventus will be able to create will be significant. Added to that the likelihood that he will strengthen the team, it seems plausible that they will be more successful domestically and qualify routinely for the Champions League. That means more sponsors, more TV money and more prize money,” Wilson was quoted to have said by the BBC.

Ronaldo will finally join Juventus on July 30.
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