At the beginning of the year, the Union will meet with Serenissima Cir, the Reggio Emilia-based ceramics group that owns Cercom, to update the situation. It is hoped that the company will offer concrete solutions that will ensure the peace of mind that reflects the professionalism and dedication of the workers at this important local tile manufacturing company.
2014 was a difficult year: starting in January, the Filo di Argenta ceramic plant underwent eight consecutive months of layoffs, resulting in a complete shutdown. After production resumed in September, layoffs were reactivated, maintaining only tile grinding operations to allow at least twenty people out of a total of over eighty workers to work on a rotational basis.
The September recovery seemed to be structural thanks to a partnership that was supposed to guarantee important third-party orders, but after a couple of months the agreement for this collaboration was not confirmed and today the outlook for employment is worrying.
If the market does not reopen and production does not resume, we strongly fear that the group will strategically decide to permanently invest in the remaining production sites, which have already taken over the traditional Cercom brand production.
It should be emphasized, however, that in all meetings, the owners have consistently expressed their willingness to explore every feasible solution to safeguard employment and Cercom's future. The most likely path forward is to seek partnerships with other companies or even find buyers for the sale of the plant.
