The kind of relationship which the Ansaldo STS Groups maintains with its employees, together with the high cultural level of the employees themselves, contribute to a relaxed climate, characterised by an extremely low rate of trade union disputes. Such a context allows the resolution of any problems of the employees through a direct employee-company relationship, with low recourse to the intervention of trade unions. The only strikes declared refer to general political/trade union issues, which in any case are external to the company.
 

The industrial relations system of the Ansaldo STS Group is based on two levels of participation, due to the existence of different operating offi ces of the Company located in several national geographic areas:
 

1. Strategic Observatory;

2. National Coordination.
 

STRATEGIC OBSERVATORY

In order to analyse the market scenario and the competitive positioning of the business areas of Ansaldo STS, a Strategic Observatory has been established which is made up of 6 members selected by the trade unions (3 national secretaries and 3 members of the National Coordination) and the company’s top management. Within the context of the activities of the Observatory, which meets annually (usually within the first quarter), the company’s Management provides appropriate information on:
 

• corporate strategies;

• the main organisational changes;

• employment trends.
 

The observatory may also meet on the request of one of the parties if, during the year, any signifi cant changes should occur with respect to the issues discussed in the annual meetings.
 

NATIONAL COORDINATION

The National Coordination board of the Bargaining Units (RSU) of FIM, FIOM and UILM, represented in the local Operating Units, was established for the purpose of guaranteeing to the bargaining units an appropriate knowledge on any issues related to technological, organisational and production-related changes, horizontal mobility, investment and employment programmes, professional training projects and production decentralisation policies.
 

The National Coordination, which is made up of a maximum of 15 bargaining agents elected in the RSUs of the different company offi ces, is one of the national parties involved in the integrative 2-level bargaining and in restructuring and reorganisation processes (if any). 

Finally, a system is envisaged for labour relationships with the individual RSUs of the production offi ces in relation to specific issues related to the individual sites.